"The Barbarian Invasions" is one of those rare movie sequels that's actually better than its predecessor. Also, it's one of the even more rare sequels that doesn't require the viewer to have seen — or to even be aware of — the first film.
That's probably a good thing, given how few people are even aware of the 1986 film "The Decline of the American Empire." Although, given how well this satirical comedy-drama approaches its subject matter, you may want to go back and see that movie, too.
"The Barbarian Invasions" takes a lot of potshots at capitalism and American consumer habits, but its treatment of Canada's socialized medicine programs isn't exactly the most complimentary either. That even-handedness is one of the film's strongest selling points.
"The Barbarian Invasions" catches up with several of the characters from the early film years later. This diverse group of French-Canadian yuppies comes together again as one, college professor Remy (Remy Girard), is winding down a life of hedonism.
As it turns out, Remy has terminal cancer, and his materialistic, high-finance son Sebastien (Stephane Rousseau) has come from overseas to make his estranged father's days as comfortable as possible. He's also paid hospital administrators, union organizers and whoever else it takes, a considerable sum of money to turn an unoccupied wing of the hospital into a country club of sorts, where Remy and his friends can reminisce about the old days.
Sebastien has also paid a drug-addicted childhood friend, Nathalie (Marie-Josee Croze), to help ease his father's pain — with illegal substances. And in the process of devoting himself to his father's comfort, Sebastien actually gets to know him.
That's probably a rather simplistic recap of writer-director Denys Arcand's screenplay, which is considerably more daring, more sly and more complex. His dialogue here is also very wry and witty. And he's assembled a terrific cast. Rousseau's character transformation from a self-involved businessman to a more compassionate son is believable, as is the familial chemistry he has with Girard. And Croze is even better, and her character begs for more screen time. (Perhaps in another sequel?)
"The Barbarian Invasions" is rated R for frequent use of strong sexual profanity, crude sexual slang terms and other sexual talk and scenes of simulated drug use (various opiates, including heroin). Running time: 99 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com