Mortal Kombat II Review: Come For The Gore, Stay For Karl Urban (If You Must)

Mortal Kombat II (M18)

Starring Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Martyn Ford, Ludi Lin, Tadanobu Asano

Directed by Simon McQuoid

If you scroll through the Instagram accounts of the Mortal Kombat II actors, you’ll probably get the sense that they had a blast making the film in Australia. (It wasn’t a job — it was a paid vacation!) They had fun, so surely the final product should be just as fun, right?

But as Steven Soderbergh once said, if that set the benchmark, it would make Cannonball Run a great film. And Mortal Kombat II is far from it — hardly a good one, for that matter.

I’m not a fan of the first Mortal Kombat, which came out — what?! — five years ago (the pandemic really did a number on my perception of time, but that’s another story for another time). I revisited my review and realised everything I need to say about Mortal Kombat II has been said before.

I know what you’re thinking: clearly, I’m not a fan of the video game franchise. You’re right — I’m not. At least, not a hardcore one. But that also makes me the film’s perfect target audience, don’t you think? If non-fans can’t walk into a film cold and understand and enjoy it, then it’s no more than a glorified in-joke.

That said, I do have notes.

Josh Lawson, who plays the laser-eyed Kano, had the best lines in the first Mortal Kombat. His character bit the dust but is resurrected (don’t ask) in the sequel… to say — yes —more funny shit. Which is a good thing, because the film takes itself far more seriously than it has any right to.

Karl Urban is a welcome addition as Johnny Cage, an also-ran action star roped into Earthrealm’s death-match tournament against Outworld. Let’s just say Urban wasn’t hired for his pugilistic skills, but for his delivery of punchlines. He’s both top (or rather under) dog and comic relief.

Between Cage and Kano, their meta-quips bring levity to the brutal kills and bland dialogue. In short, they make Mortal Kombat II watchable — tolerable, even.

While Cage and the other new characters — including Adeline Rudolph’s blade-fan-wielding Kitana and Martyn Ford’s main meanie Shao Kahn — take centre stage, the screen time for several returning characters (namely the Asians) is significantly reduced. Case in point: Lewis Tan’s Cole Young, a character exclusive to the film series, groomed as the Chosen One, only to be — what’s that word? — sidelined. Chin Han’s Shang Tsung is also pretty quiet this time around. Don’t get me started on Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim). I’m not even a fan, and I’m worked up. If there’s any consolation, Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) has a proper showdown with Kung Lao (Max Huang), another resurrected character.

Oh yes, there’s another new character: a necromancer named Quan Chi. He sounds Chinese but is played by Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood), a white dude. Make of that what you will.

I’m not too sure I have the stomach for another round of Mortal Kombat, which is obviously being set up here. Strangely enough, I’m more psyched for Street Fighter, the rival arcade game adaptation (due 15 October). Judging from the trailer, it promises more of the one thing Mortal Kombat II lacks: crazy fun. (2/5 stars) out in cinemas

Photo: Warner Bros Pictures/New Line Cinema