We know, that the original "Irony of Fate" is legendary in Russia. This sequel (or independent movie, decide for yourselves) is known firstly because of the original. But anyway, it's great. It looks beautiful, it's rather easy to watch and it tells the story that will never ever get old: that true love lives forever. There are good old characters we all know, and the new ones; places are the same but time had changed - almost everything changed but love between Jenya & Nadya is still alive. Isn't it true love story you need? If it's 20th December and if you want to create the New Year mood for yourself - you just have to watch the movie because it creates amazing atmosphere. All these New Year trees and fireworks, the Kremlin charms beating - it all is so great. After watching it, I can't wait for the New Year and Christmas holidays

Before watching the film we have read the reviews: this is a continuation of the Irony of Fate 1, but a bad one; no, this is a good continuation; still different, this film should not be considered as a continuation. There is an 'objection' that a hero drives a certain car; was he supposed to change cars every 20 minutes to give "equal rights" to different car manufacturers ? There is another 'objection' that the heroes behave as they did in Part 1; should nice people now become nasty and vice versa ? There is a still different 'objection' to lights in the city and fireworks on New Year's Eve. Rarely one sees such a diversity of views, many mutually contradictory and some outlandish.Now that we have seen Part 2, I can comment on it: on people, devices, locations and situations.There are actors known before from Part 1: Barbara Brylska as Nadya; Andrei Myagkov as Zhenya; Yuriy Yakovlev as Ippolit; Aleksandr Shirvindt as Pasha (mostly Pavlik in Part 1); Aleksandr Belyavskiy as Sasha; as well as Valentina Talyzina as Valya. It was so good to see them again ! Now we also have Elizaveta Boyarskaya as Nadya Number 2, the daughter of the original Nadya; Konstantin Khabenskiy as Kostya Lukashin son of Zhenya; Sergey Bezrukov as Irakliy (note a carefully chosen name, similar to Ippolit). There are naturally more new faces, including Igor Savochkin as Kolya the Border Guard; he makes his unique contributions – largely because most of the time he is as confused as a hungry baby in a topless bar. While Nadya Number 1 now wears large glasses, her smile is the same as before. While Zhenya now has less hair, his smile is also the same as before.As for devices, frequent use of cell phones makes this means of communication look nearly ridiculous. An original comic approach, while in more and more locations around the world there are limitations on the use of cell phones, including driving.Obviously Apartment # 12 in House # 25 on the Third Constructors Street plays its role again, as does the elevator there. We also see again the train station from which trains go to Moscow as well as two airports. This helps the impression of continuity – as does music repeated from the first film (except for the song at the end which is new).The situations are sometimes similar as before, but with interesting twists. It is not easy now to send Zhenya to St. Petersburg; this becomes a clever two parts operation executed by Sasha and Pasha. Zhenya starts to figure things out when Pasha phones to reserve "another" plane ticket. There are also new situations – well connected to Part 1. Nadya Number 2 is asked by Grandfather Frost to play his Snow Girl. She gets instant advice not to agree. However, in a wonderful twist of action, Nadya says: when I was five years old, I had to do things I hated; when I was 10 years old, it was the same; enough is enough; I agree. When one knows that Ippolit is her father and one knows his character from Part 1, the fact that he has been a despotic father is anything but surprising. Thus, events in Part 2 are admirably rooted in Part 1.One sympathizes so much with Kostya - who can hardly get a moment alone with younger Nadya. One admires his ingenuity in creating opportunities to talk to Nadya. When Grandfather Frost walks into Nadya's apartment, one wishes that inside the costume covering largely the face should be Kostya. One hears later an explanation of the original Snow Girl: he agreed to take over and complete the Grandfather Frost route but on the condition that he will have his own Snow Girl. Incidentally, I recently learned something about Grandfather Frost: Santa Claus was strictly forbidden for a number of years in the Soviet Union – until Stalin found the tradition too strong and allowed him but renamed Grandfather Frost and wearing blue instead of red. The vote of five children on who should marry the Princess is new and fresh - in spite of centuries of fairy tales.We have seen recently a US movie called "Fast Five", with virtually nothing left to imagination and much noise most of the time. Here both Part 1 and Part 2 have two levels; the amusing or moving surface level, but also a deeper level where the viewer has much food for thought. This is one more common feature of both films. Timur Bekmambetov as the director, Emil Braginskiy as the story writer – together with Eldar Ryazanov himself – have much to be proud of. One needs to say this: the richness of Part 1 has much helped the creators of Part 2 to make such a good film.Let me provide at least an example of two levels in this film. Kostya asks: "are we in Moscow or in St. Petersburg ?". Younger Nadya provides a charming – but also a profound – response: Does it matter ?".

This is the worst movie I have seen. Yes, I hate "Road Trip", but THIS "sequel" make me angry at all! Who let Ernst and Bekmambetov spoil great Soviet Movie? They make it only for money. What it means? Oh, I'll say: it means, Russian cinema is dead completely.Nasty special effects freaked me at all. Why? Why you is so silly, Timur? Your "Night watch" was very funny comedy - but you don't wanted to do it. You done it not specially. But what was in your head when you got idea to make this sh*t? There isn't any philosophic idea in your movie. Miagkov, Brylska, Yakovlev and Talyzina played awful! And this is when they are GOOD actors! Why there is drunken border guy? It is for "harmony" of "good" film? Or it is excellent humor, do you think? And I was killed when I seen Anna Semenovich thee. SHE ISN'T ACTRESS! You're not director! You can't create good films, but you like to create bad FX.People! Don't watch this. Better watch another movie of Ryazanov or Gaidai.It's bad.

I just watched this film and I must say I enjoyed it. I am a big fan of the original and I thought Bekhambetov did a good job overall. The plot is similar to the original and very well executed. I felt the film was funny during many scenes and actors did a good job. I only wish they elaborated more on the lives of Kostya and young Nadya before their meeting. We don't even know what Kostya does or where Nadya works or lives; it felt a bit incomplete. It felt like the movie started somewhere in the middle. The thought that Zhenia and Nadya from original film didn't live happily ever after still doesn't sit well with me. I also didn't believe that Zhenia didn't keep in touch with Nadya and never knew about her daughter, or vice versa. Just not very believable. If 2 people love each other, they would find a way to be together, or at least, keep in touch. I also agree that the role of young Nadya wasn't well developed, she seemed a bit distant; still think she did a very good job. In the original film, Zhenia and Nadya were the center of the entire movie, it was all about them. Here, we have more characters which included police, Santa clause, neighbors, and of course, close ups on Camry and cell phones. A lot of time was devoted to many different characters and not enough time given to the main actors Kostya and Nadya. The movie needed probably another hour to get more into their story. On the other hand, I enjoyed the fast pace of the film. Not for a minute did I think it got boring or uninteresting. I thought it was more about Zhenia and his Nadya than their kids. I so wanted to have seem more of Zhenia, Ippolit, Nadya. Still, a very fun film to watch. Can't say that it is better than the original but considering that most sequels do not work, I have to give credit to all who worked on this film. Really enjoyed it....