‘Super Troopers 3’ Review: Broken Lizard Regains Its Meow-Jo

It will take a while for audiences to feel comfortable watching Broken Lizard return to the Vermont State Trooper barracks. At first, the creative minds, you’d never say geniuses, but certainly the brains behind Super Troopers 3, have a hard time regaining the brand of deadpan absurdity and escalating stupidity that has made them cult comedy favorites for almost a quarter of a century.

There is a barrage of jokes that miss in the first act, trying to recreate the magic of those early “shenanigans” with the comedy troupe and esteemed Succession player Brian Cox, but they rarely land. The jokes are timid, too safe, and hardly recapture the juvenile magic of the first chapter. However, by the time the comedy settles into its irreverent bliss and escalating stupidity, the jokes become bolder, brasher, and even more brazen.

Yes, by the end of Super Troopers 3 it becomes clear that Broken Lizard has gotten their meow-jo back.

The follow-up focuses on the family of Thorny (Jay Chandrasekhar), the senior trooper and veteran of the Vermont State Police. He is partnered with his former rookie, Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske), when they receive a call from Thorny’s sister, Sarita (New Girl’s Hannah Simone), after she is run off the road while driving to her brother’s home. When her car comes to rest at the bottom of a hill and catches fire, a handsome hero arrives to save her.

That would be Farva (Kevin Heffernan), who pulls her from the burning wreckage. To Thorny’s dismay, Sarita falls madly in love with him, so much so that the entire squad debates what type of psychological phenomenon, or, more likely, head injury, caused it. That includes Mac (Steve Lemme), who continues to pull pranks on members of the community, and Carl (Paul Soter), who recently broke up with his girlfriend, Ursula (Marisa Coughlan).

The Troopers have a new boss (Orion and the Dark’s Nat Faxon), and his men have zero respect for him. It doesn’t help that the guys’ retired boss (Cox) still uses the barracks to toast his strudel and needlessly undercuts him. Then there is the new rookie, Coy (SNL’s Andrew Dismukes), who shows up Rabbit at every turn. All happening as “Canadian Crystal” is smuggled onto American soil, as the boys struggle to keep their Vermont highways safe.

The beginning of Super Troopers 3 is more meow-musing than belly-laugh funny. Yet, the script from the Broken Lizard comedy troupe continues to escalate the stupidity with a handful of scenes that induce gut-busting hilarity. That includes stabbing Farva with half a dozen EpiPens, a chef’s kiss. Then, a maple syrup carbonite tribute to The Empire Strikes Back. Of course, you have the contagious laughter inspired by a union between man and automobile.

Yes, this is the pinnacle that perfectly encompasses the group’s classic absurdity.

Of course, not everything works in Super Troopers 3, especially when the crude sex jokes and cultural stereotypes don’t so much land as hit the ground with a thud. The fact that Thorny’s family enjoys Farva’s personality feels unrealistic, but you roll with it. Many may not be able to handle the rapid escalation by design. You also wish The Boys’ Chace Crawford and A Man on the Inside’s Lisa Gilroy had more to work with than the one-note caricatures they are saddled with.

Still, you have to admire the group’s willingness to push the envelope with their throw-everything-at-the-kitchen-sink approach. Broken Lizard may not always be successful, but you certainly get your money’s worth, packing every scene with as much unnecessary humor as one can allow. You will notice the comedy now no longer tries to punch down, but up, and at their own character’s expense.

So, there is growth there in the franchise. That, in itself, makes the third installment meow-velous return comedic meow-hem.

You can watch Super Troopers 3 exclusively in theaters starting August 7th!