Tagline: Meet the new generation of superheroes.
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 is the sequel to the hit 1999 TriStar Pictures release Baby Geniuses starring Kathleen Turner and Christopher Lloyd, whose characters secretly worked to crack the code to “baby talk,” a highly sophisticated language that allows babies to communicate their innate knowledge of the secrets of the universe.
In Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2, the adventure continues with a new generation of talking toddlers. This time, the baby geniuses find themselves at the center of a nefarious scheme led by powerful media mogul Bill Biscane (Jon Voight). Joining the babies in their battle against evil is a legendary baby named Kahuna (Leo, Myles and Gerry Fitzgerald).
Part ultra-cool spy, part superhero, Kahuna joins babies Archie (Michael & Max Iles), Finkleman (Jordan & Jared Scheideman), Alex (Joshua & Maxwell Lockhart) and Rosita (Keana & Maia Bastidas) in a race against time to stop the villainous Biscane from using his state-of-the-art satellite system to control the minds of the world’s population.
Biscane intends to put his plan into action by launching the world’s largest children’s television network from BobbinsWorld, an elite daycare center where the babies are enrolled. Stan Bobbins (Scott Baio) and his wife, Jean (Vanessa Angel), unwittingly become involved in the plot when they agree to partner with Biscane in launching the network.
About the Film
The story for Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 came from prolific producer Steven Paul. “It all started,” recalls Paul,” when I was a little boy and believed the infinite wisdom of the universe was actually instilled in babies. I was probably about 6 or 7 years old at the time. I always felt like I was the Peter Pan of babies.”
One day when I was in Barney’s department store,” he continues, ”I saw two little babies talking to each other. It was so sweet because they didn’t even know each other. They just sat there and began to converse. — going ‘dubba dubba dah’ — and handing things to each other. There was no pretense between them.
Nearby were all the adults, like their parents and me, trying on Armani suits. I thought to myself ‘Look how silly we are compared to them. They’re probably talking about something very, very important – the infinite wisdom of the universe – and we’re here putting on these silly outfits and being childish.’”
“Then I thought,” recalls the producer, “if I could just understand what they’re saying. And that’s when I sat down and started creating the original Baby Geniuses and I was fortunate enough to interest Bob Clark, one of my favorite directors of all time because of Porky’s and A Christmas Story. We then proceeded to write about 25 drafts of the screenplay together, became very friendly and embarked on what seemed like an impossible mission to make the first film. But we did it.”
All along, Paul had his eyes on a sequel and maybe even a series of Baby Genius films. “I believe that this is something that’s going to go on for ages, with a new baby geniuses adventure at regular intervals. In the second one, I wanted to create a child that never grew up, somebody who could actually talk to both adults and babies. The concept of the original one was to enter the world of babies and see how they communicate with each other. But they can’t communicate with the outside world until they’re about two years old. Then they cross over and can’t talk to babies. So I wanted a child that could do both. That was the idea of ‘Kahuna,’ the Peter Pan of babies — the baby who never grew up, a myth that people didn’t actually believe existed but had heard about, like an old baby’s tale. But sure enough, he exists.”
Paul began working on the idea with his friend screenwriter Greg Poppen. “We worked on many drafts together. Finally, I wanted Bob Clark to direct the sequel and he said ‘Absolutely not. I will not embark on this crazy adventure again because it’s impossible to get babies to do all the things you want them to do.’
You see I wanted to go much further than the first film, to use special effects and have babies flying. I wanted them to become ‘superbabies.’ Bob thought it was impossible. So, of course, he signed on to direct the picture.”
Paul’s company Crystal Sky includes an effects company called Creative Visual Effects, which was created for Baby Geniuses. “They created all the software and they’re doing the same thing for Superbabies – unique things so we can turn all the babies into “super-heroes” and have them perform all these crazy stunts. I also wanted to create a place that was like a modern-day Willy Wonka land where the babies lived. For that we brought in the fantastic production designer Deren Abram.”
Paul not only assembled a hard-working crew but also handpicked an expert cast. He and director Clark set themselves an impossible task in finding the perfect villain — and then overcame it. “Bob and I sat around and tried to think of who we could get to play the villain. Bob said, ‘Who is some actor that we would never, ever be able to afford to get? Somebody who is impossible to get, like an Academy Award winner.’ That’s when we first thought of Jon Voight. And we hounded him down, traveled all around the world. Fortunately, his office is right next to mine,” Paul laughs. “And we’ve been friends for years.”
Initially, Paul considered Scott Baio too young for the role of Stan Bobbins. But when they met, he realized that Baio had grown into a formidable leading man. “I always picture him as much younger than he actually is. But Scott has grown into a good looking and charming man with all the right ingredients for the role. He has both the sweetness and the paternal qualities, yet was able to be child-like as well.”
Paul was equally pleased with the casting of Vanessa Angel. During the difficult casting process, he was confident that the right person would show up for the role of Jean Bobbins. She almost didn’t. Angel was cast only two days prior to the first day of shooting. Paul cast newcomer Skyler Shaye in the role of Kylie, a teenager he thinks has what it takes to achieve stardom. “I thought a comedy piece would be a great start to my career,” says Shaye. She also feels fortunate to have had Jon Voight as a mentor on her first film. “It was such an amazing experience,” she says. “He was a great coach.”
Director Bob Clark is no stranger to working with children having directed the original Baby Geniuses and a host of other films with child actors. “Doing the first one,” explains Clark, ”helps you get prepared. On this one we had more knowledge. For example, these babies napped a lot more than the ones in the first movie. So we often had to wait.”
Due to strict rules limiting the amount of time a minor can spend working on a set, twins — or in the case of “Kahuna,” triplets — were used. “We had four sets of twins and the 7-year-old triplets,” says Clark. “There were 11 babies on the set.”
To help them in the process, the production utilized the services of baby wranglers. “They were in charge of keeping the babies’ attention and to prepare them,” says Clark. “We chose the babies very carefully. It was a combination of their intelligence and willingness. You can see the intelligence, the spirit and the willingness to do it. You can just sense it. Not only did they have to fit the part physically,” says Clark, “they also had to have the willpower to do it.”
One of the main challenges was in keeping the kids interested. “If the babies lose interest, you have to stop and wait or bring in other children. Unlike with dogs or other trained pets, you can’t make them do anything. You have to be prepared, which calls for a lot more discipline. If they couldn’t say their lines, we would just try to keep them focused and get the expression out of them that we needed.”
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 utilizes more stunts and special effects than its predecessor. “In terms of stunts, this one was much more ambitious,” says Clark.
“The 7-year-old triplets were very physical and did more of their own physical business. On the first movie, we ‘morphed’ – we moved their mouths the way we wanted to look as though words were really coming out. On this movie, the kids are saying about 85% of their own words.”
Clark feels fortunate to have had another opportunity to work with Voight. “He’s magnificent,” marvels Clark, “a truly great comedic actor, a terrific super-villain.
All the adults in this film are very child-oriented. Jon loves them. So do Scott and Vanessa.”
In addition to acting in the film, Voight also served as executive producer. “It’s nice to make movies for kids, especially little kids,” says Voight, explaining his attraction to the project. “Little children need to have a sense of strength and power in an adult world. There is a lot of ‘adultism’ in the world that seems to put kids aside and can intimidate them. These films give some reinforcement to children so that they can come out of the movie thinking ‘I’m a big guy, I could do this,’ which makes them feel less vulnerable. It’s nice to make films that little children will see in their childhood and remember for the rest of their lives.”
“If anybody wants to know what good acting is,” the veteran actor continues, “all they have to do is look at children and animals because they respond to everything. Nothing escapes their sensory apparatus. It’s good to be around that. On the other hand, you have to be patient. Fortunately, I love children and am always happy to be around them. I have that kind of energy. I’ve got a big silly side,” he laughs.
He also has praise for his adult co-stars. “Scott Baio is such a smooth actor and had such a great take on his character. Vanessa Angel is someone else I’ve admired. They are both very charismatic. My goddaughter, Skyler, who I’ve know since she was a baby, worked hard to land this part and she nailed it. As for Bob Clark, he’s a special guy, a master.”
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)
Directed by: Bob Clark
Starring: Jon Voight, Scott Baio, Vanessa Angel, Peter Wingfield, Alfonso Quijada, Justin Chatwin, Skyler Shaye, Leo Fitzgerald, Myles Fitzgerald, Keana Bastidas
Screenplay by: Gregory Poppen
Production Design by: Deren Abram, Ricardo Spinacé
Cinematography by: Maher Maleh
Film Editing by: Stan Cole
Costume Design by: Tina Fiorda
Set Decoration by: Ide Foyle
Art Direction by: Richard Cook
Music by: Paul Zaza, Helmut Zerlett
MPAA Rating: PG for action violence and some rude humor.
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Release Date: August 27, 2004
Views: 199
