Billy (Zack Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) now work for Clamp, whose empire is threatened when the cuddly Mogwai Gizmo once again reproduces a monster brood. The growing gremlin army (wonderfully designed by Rick Baker) wreaks utter havoc in the high-tech temple of corporate greed, allowing Dante and Haas the chance to wage merry war on pop culture. They take pot shots at “Rambo,” “Batman,” Busby Berkeley, “The Phantom of the Opera” and critics who didn’t like the original “Gremlins.” (There’s a great gonzo moment when the creatures take over the projection of this movie, and replace it with an old black-and-white nudist film). “Gremlins 2” has its horror-movie side, but the grisly is definitely subordinate to the gags. Only a snob could resist such a generous level of lunacy.
