There's lots of shouting and very little plot in this too-often- tedious sequel to the entertaining original.

Embarrassments and misunderstandings far outweigh the action in this story and, although Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez are back on duty, it just goes to show what a difference a well-constructed script will make to a movie.

Rosie O'Donnell is squirmingly strident as the assistant DA who sets up the stakeout to find a missing witness, and only Cathy Moriarty as the witness does anything to contribute to the film, although Madeleine Stowe (unwisely) reprises her role, unbilled (wisely) as Dreyfuss' love.

And you can believe hired assassin Miguel Ferrer failing to pick up his 'accidental' Las Vegas jackpot at the beginning of the film? No way: even hit-men gotta live.