Return to Two Moon Junction

*April’s younger sister, now a model, returns to the Delongpre Antebellum mansion* Louise Fletcher as matriarch Belle Delongpre is the only one who return from the 1988 movie. Melinda Clarke as Savannah takes over the protagonist role from Sherilyn Fenn as April in the original. Although I slightly prefer Fenn, Melinda was one of the most striking women on screen in the 1990s. As for a side character who upstages the star, like Kristy McNichol did in the original, don’t look for that here. On the masculine front, Fabio-like John Clayton Schafer does well and comes off more masculine than Richard Tyson in the first film. The tone is more laid back and the story is simpler, lacking the charming bits of the original, like the dilapidated mansion that April (Fenn) & friends used to hang out at when they were teens, calling it "our place,” not to mention the no-nonsense sheriff, who's in the pocket of the wealthy matriarch, as well as Perry’s love for his dog. However, you can expect the same “love at first sight” phenomenon and some things are an improvement, such as the authentic Georgia locations (compared to the Los Angeles County locations of the original). This one also adds the contrast between designer fashion aesthetes of decadent New York City with the mundaneness and genuineness of small-town life. Like the 1988 movie, there’s overt nudity and R-rated sex sequences, but it seems toned-down a little. Regardless, if that offends you, stay away. At the end of the day, this isn’t as entertaining as the first film, but it certainly has its points of interest in its lowkey way, carrying on the story of the Delongpres of Two Moon Junction. It runs 1h 36m and was shot in late summer 1993. GRADE: B-