Keanu Reeves' New Movie Tease Can Redeem 4% RT "Worst Sequel Ever" Contender He Narrowly Avoided

Summary Speed 3 with Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock could redeem the franchise from the failure of Speed 2.

The Keanu Reeves-less Speed 2 suffered from script problems and lacked the charm of the original, leading to poor reviews.

A modern approach to action films and technology could make Speed 3 an exciting addition to Reeves and Bullock's filmography.

A prospective Speed 3 could be an ideal modern action film for Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, especially if the film avoids the mistakes that sunk the widely-decried Speed 2: Cruise Control. Thirty years after it was originally released, Speed remains an impeachable benchmark of the action genre. The film, which also starred Dennis Hopper and Jeff Daniels, was a unique mix of tense action and charming characters that was able to make almost ten times its original budget to become one of the biggest box-office hits of 1994.

Speed 2 left the potential franchise dead in the water, with Keanu Reeves' absence only the most obvious flaw. Thirty years after the original blew up the box office, there might be hope for a new take on the series. As reported by Screen Rant, Keanu Reeves has revealed that he thinks he and Bullock could "knock it out of the park" if they reunited for Speed 3. Keanu Reeves returning for Speed 3 alongside Bullock could fit well into the modern action landscape, but it has to avoid the underlying problems that doomed Speed 2 even before filming began.

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Speed 3 With Keanu Reeves Can Redeem Speed 2's Massive Failure Without Keanu Reeves

Speed 3 could be the perfect means to replicate the success of the original film, especially if it avoids the script problems that ruined Speed 2. Released in 1994, Speed was a crucial point in the careers of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, cementing them as Hollywood stars. The film paired them together as an LAPD officer and an unassuming civilian who find themselves trapped within the machinations of a criminal bomber, Howard Payne. Despite a fast-paced tenor that never lets up on the action, the film benefits most from strong performances and a character-driven script.

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The film was a massive success, both critically and commercially, and has been heralded as a masterpiece of the action genre. However, Speed 2 suffered in comparison, partly due to the absence of Keanu Reeves' role, Jack Traven. A prospective Speed 3 could be an ideal chance to return to the thriller over three decades later, exploring how the characters and tone of a 90's action film fit into a more modern sensibility. However, it'll need to do more than just bring back Reeves, as Speed 2 suffered from numerous other problems.

What Went Wrong With Speed 2

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Following the massive success of Speed, a prospective sequel was set in motion by 20th Century Fox. However, the original concept for Speed 2 was cut and the eventual product suffered from a lackluster script that failed to match the energy or thrills of the original. Reeves certainly seems to have agreed, as script problems are cited as one of the reasons he turned down the film. The script for Speed 2 suffers from clunky dialogue and dull characters, with Bullock's Annie Porter lacking much of the spirit she possessed in the original film.

The film's central setting — a hijacked cruise line ship — lacked the inherent excitement of Speed's out-of-control bus. For a film titled Speed 2, it's also a remarkably slow-moving film that becomes laughably bad at times. While Speed's action and special effects still work thirty years later, Speed 2's effects are far sillier and over-the-top. Speed 2 lost the perfect amount of wit and self-awareness Speed used to balance out its wild action set-pieces, and the film suffered as a result. At the time of this writing, Speed 2 only has a 4% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Why Speed 3 With Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock Would Work 30 Years After The Original

A prospective Speed 3 would benefit from a more modern approach to action films. As seen in movies like The Fall Guy, there are still films that can blend an exciting blockbuster thriller with a sweet romantic subplot. Films like that and the John Wick series underscore how practical effects are still a driving force in some of the biggest modern action hits. That film series also highlights how effective Keanu Reeves remains as a bankable action-movie star, proving Keanu Reeves' Speed return wouldn't be outside the actor's wheelhouse.

Bullock has also subsequently showcased her versatility as an actress, meaning the film could give Annie more to do. Speed 3 could also benefit from playing with the evolution of technology, especially in contrast to the uncontrollable and very physical dangers at the heart of the premise. Speed 3 would be an exciting new addition to Reeves and Bullock's modern filmography that could retain what made the original work so well in the first place while bringing it into the 21st century.

Sources: Screen Rant