Oh God! Book II (1980)

Sequels usually stink, but this one manages to hang in there..

Let's face it, sequels usually never surpass the original. Sure Terminator 2 and Godfather 2 are exceptions, but in the movie world, it's a simple fact sequels suck! But just because it's not usually as good as the original, does not mean that Oh God Book II is a bad movie. I actually think it deserves more credit. George Burns reprises his role as God and that within itself is a good thing because portraying our Lord is no easy feat and he saves the movie from every aspect. It's basically the same premise as OH God, only this time it's a little girl told to spread the Word. The cast is a bunch of nobodies and mind you some of the acting is pretty bad, but the little girl Tracy Richards played by (Louanne - don't ask why she has no last name, nobody really knows) but Louanne does an acceptable acting job and her little body doing big things for God makes you want to stick with it until it's all over. The script is not as creative as the original and is as predictable as any sequel could ever be, but it's still fun. There are some touching moments between George Burns and the Louanne especially at the end of the movie when God makes his grand appearance in front of everyone.

OH God Book II certainly didn't win any academy awards and it's not as good as the original or even OH God You Devil, but it still manages to be enjoyable thanks to the funny antics of George Burns. June 4, 2006

God in the 20th century

I absolutely love this movie! One night when I was bored flipping the channels I found this movie and I am so glad that I did. It was a really creative twist on faith. A little girl thinks that God is telling her to post signs in her school saying "think God" and the whole rest goes from there. It is adorable, very creative and inspirational especially for people of faith; although it would cause some thinking in nonbelievers. The little girl is so cute and reminds me of myself when I was little. It's kind of funny how a little child was able to believe when the adults wouldn't. George Burns makes a great God in this movie. I'm going to make sure I own a copy of this movie. Make sure you watch it. The ending is really sweet. Also check out the first edition "Oh God" and Oh God, you Devil". February 27, 2004

Another Ungodly Sequel

George Burns reprises his role of the Almighty in "Oh God! Book II", a 1980 sequel to the popular "Oh, God". Burns was great as an incarnation of the Deity in "Oh, God!" and with good direction by Carl Reiner, the movie was also good. He's still good in "Book II", yet the movie isn't.

Part of the problem is they didn't come up with a distinct and original story, a departure from what we got in the first film. The cover for the video reads "That's right, I made another movie," yet as far as I can see this is not another movie, but pretty much the same movie. It does (except for Burns) have different characters and therefore different situations, but from beginning to end "Book II" is all too similar to its predecessor.

Like its predecessor, the sequel has God coming back for the same reasons. "They are still not thinking about me," he says. "People have to be reminded I'm still around." This time, he chooses a young girl named Tracy (played by a where-is-she-now actress who just went by "Louanne") and like the late John Denver in the original, she is surprised when she gets a message to meet God. Also like Denver, she thinks it's a practical joke when she hears Burns' voice at the meeting place. But alas, like the first movie, she comes to believe and wants to get his message across.

Tracy's father (David Birney) is in advertising, so she tries to figure out a way to advertise God (as Denver did), finally coming up with the brilliant slogan "Think God". She then organizes a group of her fellow students in the school auditorium (how would be a good question) and proposes her plan to post signs and write "Think God" wherever they can.

Soon some kids can be seen crossing out some graffiti that says "Grass is good for you" to write "Think God". Later, Tracy's mother (Suzanne Pleshette) rationalizes to the school principal that "kids are going to write things on walls anyway, why not 'Think God'?" (What a dumb line. "Think God" is just as much graffiti as "Grass is good for you.")

Anyway, the similarity between the two films goes on right to the very end. I won't tell you the climax, but it's about as close as they could get within the context of the different characters. The denouement is also pretty much the same.

I liked "Oh, God!" but I can't recommend this sequel (reproduction) with its plastic characters and cutesy situations. George Burns is the standout, yet even he is just repeating his original good performance. They even have him spouting the same mistakes-of-nature type jokes. Warner Brothers really took the easy way out. They stayed with something that worked, and they played it safe. Don't fall for it. July 31, 2000

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