Love Tactics 2 (2023)

2022s Love Tactics was an enjoyable Turkish rom-com. Imagine my surprise when last week, less than a year later, a trailer from the sequel pops out of the blue! My first reaction was astonishment. Really? A sequel to Love Tactics? Already?? My second was excitement-"Oooh, I liked that movie, hopefully this one's good!". Followed by my third-"Oh god, it'd better not be bad!"...

New couple Aslı and Kerem are helping with the wedding celebration of their friends, and discussing the topic themselves. Aslı is firmly against the concept, and Kerem is happy to hear this...sending Aslı into alarm mode. Now that her boyfriend doesn't want marriage, the game is on to win him over to the idea. Kerem meanwhile bets his friends he can turn Aslı off to the idea of marriage. Can either succeed? Or will these games only fuel the desire for something more? And what else could happen during this bet?...

I went into Love Tactics 2 with mixed expectations, not sure what to expect. Now that I've finished, I can report that it is a good movie. Not great, but it entertains. First and foremost, is it a necessary sequel? Well, frankly no, but the plot did kinda justify itself. Now that the hunt is over and the couple are together, having them both scheme about marriage is a good way of having a plot that follows on the same theme, while still exploring new territory.

As it goes on, the film has some alright gags and setpieces, like a babysitting segment that verges on gross. Then there's the arrival of Aslı's parents, whose idyllic marriage is meant to convince Kerem of the bliss of marriage...until it turns out they're in a rocky patch. There are many ways that particular scene could've gone, and while I was expecting something else, I guess it was done ok.

It's about halfway through when Love Tactics 2's most frustrating feature comes on. The action here hinges on the characters being rich. Obviously I don't mind watching rich characters on film, but this seems to almost rub it in our faces. They have cushy jobs, designer fashion, hang out on yachts, and then the movie literally stops for a ritzy party on a private island! All while droning music sings about how 'We're rich, rich, yeah, money money, we've got so much money', etc. There's wish fulfillment, then there's taking the piss!

When so much of the film is taken up by scenes like this, I began to wonder if Love Tactics 2 had any heart. The first film was snarky, and poked fun at romantic cliches despite playing out every single one. But while not bad, this sequel just didn't seem to have the same emotional and sincere moments of the original, like the hot air balloon ride, or pottery scene.

Eventually events do come to a head, with a big climactic event surprisingly early. And it is ridiculous! Kerem decides to take Aslı on a surprise plane ride, and she promptly gets high as a kite on anxiety pills, and one thing leads to another and they end up having to commandeer a plane all by themselves through a massive storm. It's so convenient and unbelievable that I honestly expected it to all be a dream! That'd be a cheat, but at least it'd make more sense!

It's from here onwards where things become more sappy and dramatic.The whole film I was wasn't sure what it was even building to. And I wondered if making marriage look bad was really the wisest move, when it might make the relationship overall look bad! Eventually the bet settles down, and the main conflict of this last act is entirely emotional. Aslı is offered a 6-month job in Dubai, and immediately thinks the worst of Kerem when he proposes. When in actuality, he wanted her to marry him, and is ok with her career move. Talk about a best of both worlds! Really makes Aslı come off poorly for doubting him so harshly.

The ending itself is a bit brief and anticlimactic, and worst of all is both weddings are offscreen! The movie seems to end abruptly at first, but keeps going through the credits, with narration giving us some final wrap-ups, and a goodbye.

The fashion here ranges from the snazzy, to the terrible, and the weird things Aslı wears at times made me think 'For god's sake, put on a real shirt!'. We also get a pretty shameless lingerie bacholorette party and song, though I'm by no means complaining, when we get to see all these gorgeous women in lingerie!

Aslı is alright, but with her unbearable or bitchy moments. She has a new job, with no mention of her blog, although I guess it did close last movie. She's a fun schemer, although her constant badmouthing of marriage gets pretty old, especially when her friend is happily getting hitched! I was grateful when her other friend gave her a good talking to. I'm not sure why Aslı even hates marriage that much! I mean, personal preference counts for a lot, but if her happily married parents were her only frame of reference...

Kerem meanwhile is a typical Turkish male, but with enough charm, good looks, and sensitive moments to never be an ass. He gets a bit less to do, and less to grow, but he still gets enough to do.

The friends are a likeable bunch once more. Tuna and Cansu are a sweet (if occasionally schmaltzy) couple, and their interplay with the others can be funny. We also get to hear more of Emir's wife, and see her. And wouldn't you know it she's a drop dead gorgeous supermodel. Because of course she is. Then there's Aslı's parents, who =.

Aslı's old schoolmate Bulut is a confusing addition in that he threatens to come between no less than three couples! But thankfully this doesn't go anywhere. He doesn't add much to the film, save for ritzy locations, and the career choice in the last act.

The direction feels a bit different this time round, but keeps some of the same stylistic choices of the first movie, so it's not too unfamiliar. I also thought the black-and-white credits were pretty neat.

The cast do a good job once again. Şükrü Özyıldız is a suave co-lead and Demet Özdemir is good, despite her character's unlikable moments, and amuses at times with her Turkish delivery, going into 'Nayir nolamaz' territory at one point. Atakan Çelik is back as Tuna, but the other actor is conspicuously absent, which the film briefly lampshades. The new guy's ok I guess, though not as good as his predecessor. The other girls are fun too.

The soundtrack here is comprised of tracks from the first film, as well as some new ones, and it's all fine. I particularly liked the rock-y rescoring over the ending, with some neat electric guitar work in there.

Overall, Love Tactics 2 isn't the best of sequels, and has its annoying qualities, but it's not bad either, and is a fun enough diversion for 90 minutes...