Predator 2

If the first "Predator" was "Alien" meets "Rambo," it must be that "Predator 2" is intended to be "Alien" meets "Lethal Weapon" — right down to the casting of Danny Glover in the lead.

"Predator" was an oddball film that made little sense, but it was carried along by its own sheer energy and the stylish directing debut of John McTiernan, who went on to do "Die Hard" and "The Hunt for Red October."

"Predator 2," on the other hand, is hyperactive, confusing and a victim of perhaps too much energy. There's plenty to do for those in charge of high-tech weaponry and stunts, but not much for the actors, short of a physical workout.

Like the first film, the second is replete with capable character actors in supporting roles, but here they are constantly swearing and/or screaming while wearing one of two expressions — anger or fright.

Even Glover, one of the screen's most appealing "everyman" actors, with a commendable and uncommon range of roles in relatively few films, seems to be at sea here. He sweats and huffs and puffs and spits profanities freely, and when he has his showdown with the title character, he is convincingly frightened, confused and courageous all at once. But there's no depth to his character, as there was with his portrayals of the voice of reason in the two "Lethal Weapon" films.

For the uninitiated, the first "Predator" film introduced an offbeat alien as a hunter from space who makes trophies of human hides. Since he is a sportsman, he stalks primarily humans who carry weapons, not hard to find in 1997 Los Angeles, the setting for "Predator 2."

He is tall and husky, with a spacesuit that allows him invisibility at the push of a button, as well as myriad other features his local tailor apparently included. He wears dreadlocks and has an insect-looking face. And he's rather mean-spirited.

From the opening moments it's apparent that "Predator 2" will be loud and chaotic, but it becomes frenzied, with direction (by Australian Stephen Hopkins, "Nightmare on Elm Street 5") that is so hyper it becomes headache-inducing. The editing style is Music Video 101.