Starring: Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins, Seth Green (Voice), Christopher Lloyd
Forty years after his initial, bewildering arrival on Earth, the most sarcastic and perpetually grumpy hero in the universe is dragged back into the spotlight. Howard the Duck 2: Multiverse Mayhem is a chaotic, meta-commentary adventure that promises more feathers, more snark, and far more dimensional insanity.
The Duck Who Just Wants a Drink
Howard (voiced once again by Seth Green) has finally achieved a semblance of normalcy—or at least, the closest thing to normalcy a six-foot-tall talking duck from a parallel dimension can manage. He’s running a forgotten, low-key dive bar in Cleveland, doing his best to lay low, pull a decent pint, and put his inter-dimensional troubles behind him.
That tranquility is violently shattered when a massive, pulsating dimensional rift tears open directly above the hallowed grounds of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This catastrophic event immediately forces the reluctant Howard back into action, confirming that trouble will always find the duck.
Reunions and Rifts
The cosmic catastrophe brings Howard back into contact with his original Earth allies:
- Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson) returns, having traded her band manager gig for rock stardom. She is now a legendary rock icon, fiercely leading the local resistance against a new wave of cosmic invaders known as the Dark Overlords. She is tougher, louder, and more prepared for battle than ever.
- Phil Blumburtt (Tim Robbins) also reprises his role, still the endearingly eccentric scientist. Unfortunately, his continued, well-intentioned but ill-fated experiments are the likely source of the cosmic threat, having accidentally destabilized the fabric of reality.
The Nexus of All Mayhem
The titular Multiverse Mayhem kicks into high gear when the dimensional rift begins spitting out different versions of Howard from across the vast cosmos. Howard is forced to deal with a range of bizarre variants, including: a gritty, fedora-wearing noir detective duck; a ridiculously buff, overly polished CGI superhero duck; and a perpetually singing Broadway duck.
To make any sense of the chaos, Howard and his allies gain the assistance of a mysterious, trench coat-wearing time-traveler (Christopher Lloyd), who serves as the expositionary guide to this dimensional breakdown.
Howard must reluctantly unite his multiple, often antagonistic variants to stop the dimensional collapse at its source: the “Nexus of All Realities.” Packed with deep cuts of 80s nostalgia, constant fourth-wall-breaking humor, and a killer soundtrack loaded with rock and meta-pop tracks, this sequel finally aims to give the sarcastic, cigar-chomping duck his rightful cinematic due.