Super Troopers 3: Maximizes The Trooper Drama and Laughs

The adventures of the gang at the Vermont Highway Patrol have graced our screens since 2001, appearing in two installments in 2001 and 2018. The cult classic Super Troopers franchise, the brainchild of legendary comedy troupe Broken Lizard, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske, the group all play prominent roles on both sides of the camera. A chemistry that has stood the test of time, Chandrasekhar once again directs and co-writes with the troupe, and they once again play a prominent role in now the third film of the franchise, Super Troopers 3. While it could be said that the first 2 films are rehashes of one another, the latter with a bigger budget, this film does something a little different. That being said, the film is, first and foremost, a platform that lets the Broken Lizard guys riff off of one another for another roughly 100-minutes, to often hilarious results. Does it all work? No, but it sure is fun. Above all else, there is an endearing factor to reuniting with some old friends for another romp that can still throw some surprises our way. As mentioned, Chandrasekhar and co. take the story in a different direction, not necessarily a big case to rally around, rather one that leans on the characters and their great chemistry.

Super Troopers 3 starts off with a bang as an unfortunate accident involving Thorny’s (Chandrasekhar) sister Sarita (Hannah Simone) leads to a surprising engagement to Farva (Heffernan), the officer who saved her life. The most surprised was of course Thorny, knowing his sister and the kind of person she is, and knowing Farva, and the kind of person he was (as we all do). From there, escalating in ways that he, and the rest of the crew did not believe possible, resulting in wedding bells. Making it his mission to ensure that a Farva-Sarita wedding never happens, that mission proved to be increasingly difficult as the leadup would spiral into total chaos as his efforts seemed to fail against a game Farva. Meanwhile, this ordeal was not the only game in town as the film lets the other characters spinoff into their own bouts of introspection, facing the passage of time and their own professional mortality. Coming to terms with their own limitations, much of the film is about the group trying to prove they can still do it. As audiences have grown up with these characters over the last two decades, it is easy to relate to the kinds of feelings they faced with time continuing to pass them by. Now under the command of a new chief (Nat Faxon), and with a new rookie (Andrew Dismukes), the dynamic saw a refresh while maintaining the same edge.

In the midst of all the wedding chaos, a mysterious drug ring operated under their noses, as Mac’s (Lemme) white whales, allegedly reformed drug dealer brothers Baker (Chace Crawford) and Steve (Jon Rudnitsky) continued to live free. What became a rivalry between he and the younger brothers, they taunted him relentlessly as they flaunted their uncanny ability to evade him at every turn. Adding another wrinkle to the proceedings, this inadequacy had him in a bit of a rut. However, a suspicious vandalism spree similar to that of the brothers’ past crimes appeared to point the finger back at them. Trying to prove to the brothers, but most importantly to himself, that he hadn’t lost a step, Mac was determined to stop them. With the subplots mostly taking a backseat to the wedding drama, all roads inevitably led to the wedding, or no wedding if Thorny had his way. As his parents (Sakina Jaffrey, Iqbal Theba) came to town, despite his attempts to expose Farva for the person he was, nothing would sway them, or Sarita. That desperation made for some chaotic moments that are truly hilarious to watch. Not breaking any new ground, the game of wits between Thorny and Farva (and Jay Chandrasekhar and Kevin Heffernan) is certainly one of the highlights. In the end, something had to give, as the film finds a way to weave everything back together in a satisfying way. Though it may be predictable, the fun factor outweighs this.

Hitting more often than not, Super Troopers 3 is as hilarious as the franchise has ever been. Bringing in more characters to the story, and giving returning characters a bigger opportunity to shine, the cast all deliver. Offering a few more surprises, Broken Lizard shows that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Chandrasekhar and co. maintain a steady hand on both sides of the camera, as their chemistry makes the film. However, they are far from the only ones to have an impact. Brian Cox returns as a now retired Captain O’Hagan in a limited role, but remains a scene-stealer. Bored in his retirement, he kept hanging around the squad room. Still full of the same wisdom, this newfound perspective added to and complicated the new squad dynamic.

Overall, Super Troopers 3 is a hilarious installment that turns the focus on the troopers, proving that Broken Lizard still has a few tricks up their sleeves as they keep up with the times.

still courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.