Spike and Brandon: Summer Vacation

Spike and Brandon: Summer Vacation is an American comedy adventure film and a sequel to 2019’s Spike and Brandon. It is produced and distributed by Universal Studios. The film stars Niko Lovett, Finn Wolfhard, Kevin Hart, Darcy Combs, Dylan Bond, Bill Murray, Gabriel Bateman, and Rose Byrne. It is also the fourth film in the Animal Cinematic Universe (ACU).

The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 3, 2020. It was also a box office success, grossing $800 million against a $200 million budget, and received positive reviews for its plot, casting, humor, performances, and heart, but some criticized that it wasn’t as “fresh” as the first film. A sequel is in development.

Plot
A long time ago, a bunny named Bunny (Kevin Hart) was abandoned in the Wilderness due to not being able to do tricks. He finds scraps of metal as he is attacked by a Bear, who he refers to as “Robo-Bear” (Bill Murray). Bunny then hides out in a Waterfall and searches for food.

Many Years Later, Spike (Niko Lovett) and Brandon (Finn Wolfhard) prepare for the last day of Owner’s (Gabriel Bateman) school year. They overhear his mother (Rose Byrne) tell him that the family (including the animals) are going on a huge vacation to Florida on a road trip.

Spike and Brandon recruit Devil (Darcy Combs) and Ben (Dylan Bond) for the trip due to excitement. They then pack their bags very quickly and prepare for the ultimate vacation into the Wilderness.

On the Way to Florida, a road bump sends Spike, Brandon, Devil, and Benson into the Florida jungle. Spike and Brandon find themselves in a flowery location, while Benson and Devil find themselves near a Waterfall. Confused, Brandon calls for help as they are attacked by Robo-Bear. Bunny arrives and escorts Spike and Brandon to safety.

Benson sees being trapped in the Jungle as a chance to tell Devil about how he has a crush on her. The two discover Robo-Bear and fall down the Waterfall out of fear. Benson tries to tell Devil about his feelings, but she is too busy getting firewood for them to stay the Night in the Wilderness.

Owner and Owner’s Mom discover Spike, Brandon, Devil, and Benson to be missing and retrace their steps to the Florida Jungle to save them. Out of Curiosity, they search the Waterfall with no trace of Devil or Benson. They then search some more and get food to take a break from searching.

Spike, Brandon, and Bunny gather around a Fire for the night to sleep. Brandon overhears a Bear sound and Spike discusses how he wants to find a Florida Panther, but Bunny reveals that they died out 17 years ago. Spike searches the trees for the sound and discovers that it’s just an owl. The three go to sleep for the night.

The Next Day, Spike and Brandon are reunited with Devil and Benson, to whom Bunny is confused with. Bunny reveals that he found an Airport overnight and explains that he was lost in the Jungle, explaining his Origin story to them over a timespan of days. Owner gives up and hopes that they come home eventually.

After Days of Travelling, Bunny is revealed to have created Robo-Bear and was plotting to kill the animals this whole time. Spike, Brandon, Devil, and Benson hide out in the trees, where Mike the Meerkat (Kyle Snow) and Ted the Tiger (Jamyson Barlett) arrive to help them in Battle. They come up with a plan to destroy Robo-Bear and defeat Bunny.

Brandon sets up a trap, but the plan backfires and Ted and Mike are kicked into the bushes. Bunny chokes Brandon as Spike arrives on a Florida Pink Panther and kicks Bunny near the cliff and destroys Robo-Bear, which is revealed to have been a suit. The Panther rams Bunny off the cliff, presumably killing Spike in the process.

Spike is revealed to have survived the ram and reunites with Brandon, Devil, and Benson. Ted and Mike return to Africa and wish them luck at returning home. Spike, Brandon, Devil, and Benson find Owner and his mother at the Gas Station and the pets reunite with their Owners. In the End, the pets learn that their Owner will always search for them no matter what.

In a mid-credit scene, Bunny is revealed to have survived and discovers an apocalyptic spaceship arriving to destroy Earth.

Cast
Additionally, Kyle Snow and Jamyson Barlett appear in uncredited roles as Mike the Meerkat and Ted the Tiger in the film, respectively.
 * Niko Lovett as Spike,
 * Finn Wolfhard as Brandon
 * Kevin Hart as Bunny
 * Darcy Combs as Devil
 * Dylan Bond as Benson
 * Bill Murray as Robo-Bear
 * Gabriel Bateman as Owner
 * Rose Byrne as Owner’s Mom

Production
The film was announced shortly after the release of the first film due to its successful opening. Lovett, Wolfhard, Combs, Bond, Bateman, and Byrne were all set to reprise their roles as Spike, Brandon, Devil, Benson, Owner, and Owner’s Mom, respectively. In July 2020, Hart and Murray were set to play unknown characters in the film. The plot and title were revealed in a teaser for the film, which was released on January 3, 2020.

Reception
The film received generally positive reviews for its plot, casting, performances, humor, and heart, with some criticizing that it wasn’t as “fresh” as the first film. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an 85% Score, with an average rating of 7.86/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “While it may seem a tad familiar to other vacation disaster films, Spike and Brandon’s sequel still has fans hyped for more adventures to come.” On an A+ to F Scale, the film received an “A-”.

Release
The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 3, 2020. It was also released digitally on September 24, 2020, and on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 14, 2020.

Sequel
An untitled sequel is in development.