The Hulk 2
Genre: Action/Superhero/Sci-Fi
Director: Leigh Whannell
Writer: H.G. Hansen
Based on Marvel Comics characters
Cast: Mark Duplass, Bryce Dallas Howard, Don Johnson, Timothy Olyphant, Jenny Slate, Jay Baruchel, William H. Macy, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Melissa George, F. Murray Abraham (CAMEO), Ron Perlman (CAMEO), Robert Patrick (CAMEO)
Plot: Samuel Sterns (Jay Baruchel) has flashes of memory of being bullied as a kid for being too brainy for his own good. He gets back to work, locked into an underground lab by Hydra, trying to recreate the gamma transformations in household rodents, failing every time. Every failure results in punishment. In secret, Sterns releases a failed test subject with a smile.
Bruce Banner (Mark Duplass) has a nightmare the night before his wedding, reliving that his gifted father abandoned his family to pursue scientific research. This angers Kid Bruce, prompting the sleeping Bruce to turn into the Hulk. Betty Ross (Bryce Dallas Howard), lying awake and nervous about the big day, sees Bruce convulsing, rushing to sedate him. After he calms, she asks if he's alright, and he says it's just a bad dream. She reminds him that Bruce must try his best not to "go green" as it'll lose them the protection of her father. She then begins crying at her father's mention, knowing he won't be at the wedding, given his dislike of Banner. Bruce says that General Ross is just scared of his daughter being hurt, but Bruce promises he never will.
On the wedding day, Bruce sees Geoffrey Crawford (William H. Macy) roll in. Crawford diminishes Bruce's cold feet since he's Bruce's only father figure. As Bruce leaves, Crawford sadly stares in the mirror.
At the wedding, Bruce is deeply entranced by Betty walking down the aisle. Almost near the altar, Betty disappointingly sees an empty seat for General Ross. Bruce gives the vow to be her only man. Betty gives Bruce a speech that he's all she needs. After Betty deeply kisses him, they marry, to everyone's joy.
The reception's going on as Bruce and Crawford watch Betty. Crawford remarks Bruce isn't his father's son. As Betty and Bruce dance, Betty's finally happy, but Bruce brings up Betty's father. Betty takes this as an issue but is interrupted by a noise.
A monstrous mutated gerbil charges through the parking lot, scattering the guests. Bringing Betty to safety, Bruce sees Crawford's wheelchair stuck. The gerbil rushes at Crawford. Suddenly, Bruce pushes Crawford out of the way, sending Bruce flying into equipment, falling on top of him. Betty cries out as Crawford looks amazed. The creature roars, turning to look at Crawford. Suddenly, a sound is heard. The creature turns as the wreckage begins to shift. The creature slowly goes up, and one angry groan makes Betty smile.
Sending wreckage flying around, The Hulk gives an angry roar. The creature cocks its head to the side, confused. In a blink of an eye, Hulk rushes at the creature. They clash, leaving Hulk suplexing it to the ground and landing heavy punches. With the creature's tail, Hulk's sent flying into a car.
The creature roars, charging at the Hulk. Hulk shakes off the cobwebs seeing the upcoming creature. Hulk tears the car up. The creature now pounces up, but Hulk quickly turns to punch it with one car-wrapped fist. They both roar, charging at one another as Hulk lands a Superman punch and then a set of heavy rainmakers. Hulk ragdolls it back and forth till it's motionless. Hulk stomps on the creature letting out a monstrous roar. Betty approaches the Hulk, trying to calm him down. Police sirens are heard, reminding Hulk of Banner's nightmares. Shaking his head, Hulk turns around to jump away past an invisible S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicopter.
Since New Mexico, General Glenn Talbot (Timothy Olyphant) wants the Hulk caught. General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Don Johnson) tries to object, having a heated discussion with Talbot. Talbot knows Ross's daughter's involvement, and Ross is protecting Banner. As Ross begins to threaten Talbot, Talbot remarks that Admiral Westbrook isn't here to stop him. Talbot smiles, whispering it's payback time.
Bruce wakes up in a park deep in the forest. Betty greets him, knowing it's the location of their first date. Bruce worries about who he hurt, but Crawford reassures Bruce. Betty informs the creature's D.N.A. had gamma radiation traced back to New Mexico. Bruce questions how that's possible.
At a private lab, Bruce can't believe how Samuel Sterns stole all of his blood samples. Betty asks why the attack then. Crawford proposes that Sterns needed fresher samples. A case in point is the mutated animal. Bruce proposes they begin tracking Sterns down, but Crawford thinks that'll be difficult since Sterns' modified the samples. Betty mentions they may know someone with a controlled sample, which Bruce refuses. They agreed it'd be better if they never met, but Betty notes she may be in danger too. Betty plays a video of J. Jonah Jameson's (Ron Perlman) report on She-Hulk.
At Harvard Law, a seminar is being given about Hero Law. One student harasses the teacher, asking her to "go green." Jennifer Walters (Jenny Slate) smirks, noting this her class is for future lawyers, not drooling fanboys. The bell rings, dismissing the class. Jennifer sighs tiredly. Bruce discusses why the famous Hero Law expert Jennifer Walters lectures fans who only stare at her. She asks what he can do for her. He thought he'd ask her help since his blood helped her survive a bullet in the head. She slowly looks back at him.
At the lab, seeing how Jennifer's uneven, Betty gives her some tea. Jennifer jokes whiskey would work best. Jennifer asks why now. Bruce, Betty, and Crawford explain the attack and need her blood. Jennifer jokes blood's a requirement to become a top lawyer, so why not? After seeing Jennifer turning into She-Hulk on command from getting pricked, Crawford's amazed by her. Bruce disagrees, thinking no one should have this curse which Crawford thinks is a blessing. Bruce excuses them as She-Hulk transforms back.
In private, Crawford and Bruce argue. Crawford's upset by Bruce's wanting to "cure" himself. Crawford rants about helping the lives of anyone with severed limbs or fatal/terminal Illnesses and maybe helping the handicapped walk again. Hearing this, Bruce questions how Crawford knows this. After being pressured, Crawford reveals Sterns dropped one sample. He tested it on himself, resulting in walking again. Crawford isn't sorry after discovering a scientific miracle, only if it lasted a minute. Upset, Bruce counters Crawford's claims citing the worst-case scenario of Hulk-like weapons that'd make New Mexico a cakewalk in comparison. Crawford calls Bruce's bluff, begging to know why Bruce's afraid. Bruce shouts that he's scared he'll kill his wife, which probably wouldn't stop him. Bruce asks if he's his father's son as Crawford rolls away. "No, Bruce… Your father had a spine when owning his monsters." Crawford rolls into the dark, leaving Bruce sulking.
Meanwhile, Jennifer and Betty talk. Jennifer admits she casually dates after accidentally killing the last man she loved. It's the reason she hasn't been She-Hulk for a while. As Jennifer pours a drink, Betty looks for Bruce, who's depressed. No matter how much he's suffered, everyone wants the monster except the one who's got it. Betty comforts Bruce as Jennifer offers secure housing. As they leave, a car waits to follow them.
Bruce can't sleep in Jennifer's condo, leaving to find Jennifer grading papers. Jennifer remarks, knowing Bruce's recent nightmares. Bruce doesn't care but worries about it affecting Betty. Jennifer doubts his concerns, but Bruce knows his general's daughter's wife. Jennifer digs into that. Bruce explains how Betty's mother died of cancer while Ross was on duty. As someone whose mother died, Jennifer remarks on everyone's grief differently. Bruce still wonders if his situation only further divides them.
Meanwhile, Crawford downloads files and gathers samples as he calls an anonymous tip to an "S.S.'' on a private messenger.
The following day, something breaks through a window during breakfast—flashbang blasts with soldiers breaking in. Betty cries out for Bruce, and Jennifer goes to help her. Bruce can't use his eyes because of the flashbang. A soldier confirms sight on Banner, to which Talbot gives open fire. They shoot tranq darts at Bruce. Jennifer doesn't like this.
The soldiers each get picked off one at a time in the smoke. The last one aiming his gun, turns to have his barrel pent backward. He looks to see She-Hulk smiling and lightly shoves him. Confused, She-Hulk turns to see something growing in the smoke. Each step turns bigger and greener. She-Hulk's horrified as Banner growls.
Talbot watches in amazement as She-Hulk blasts out, flying across the sky. She-Hulk lands, shaking it off but sees a big green dot above her. Bigger and bigger until she sees a roaring HULK smash-landing onto her. Hulk roars, angered by the confusing green lady. Hulk roars at people videotaping. She-Hulk's heard putting on some fighting gloves. Enraged, Hulk roaringly rushes at her, to which she dodges, then lands a killer uppercut. Jennifer goes from body to head, punching like a world-class boxer till landing a hard haymaker.
Hulk shakes his head, confused. She-Hulk tries to settle him down, but Hulk grabs a lamppost and hits She-Hulk, sending her crashing. She remarks on the dirty move, but Hulk's quick to attack. He lands heavy hits on her. Hit after hit. She tries to counter, but Hulk headbutts her. Hulk mercilessly punches She-Hulk. Jennifer struggles to defend herself. Hulk sets up the final blow till Betty screams.
Betty's seen running up and reassures Hulk that She-Hulk's a friend. Hulk empathetically lets go of She-Hulk. Hulk walks up to Betty, who brings her hand to his face. Calming down, Hulk transforms back to Banner.
Just then, General Talbot orders them to use their Omega Sonic Ray blaster, which an arriving General Ross protests since Betty's near Hulk and She-Hulk. Talbot warned Ross, and Betty must pay for her actions. Seeing Bruce's passed out in Betty's arms, Ross bumps the blast ray away from them. Talbot orders Ross to be detained. Betty asks She-Hulk to take Bruce to safety. She-Hulk agrees, grabs Bruce, and jumps high to escape.
Talbot puts out a nationwide search for both The Hulk and the famous She-Hulk. Talbot orders Betty's arrest hoping the family reunion will be enough to distract them. We see a fly-like drone watching the whole thing. Sterns is seen having watched both Hulks fight gleefully. They know Sterns let the dog out to attack Hulk. Sinthea Shmidt (Melissa George) comes in demanding an explanation. Stern plays coy but gets punished. Hydra orders him to bring them results, or they'll "end" their agreement. As they leave, Stern smiles, wiping the blood away.
Later, Bruce wakes up, confused. She-Hulk appears out of the shadows, reassuring him. Bruce's weakened, which She-Hulk finds funny since she got the worst. Bruce apologizes even though he doesn't remember. She-Hulk asks if that often happens. Bruce's face suddenly saddens. Bruce's thankful since it could've been a lot worse. Bruce notices Jennifer seeing Bruce Hulk out was a shock to even her.
Bruce gets a call from Crawford, hiding from Talbot's troops in the lab. He tips Bruce off that he traced Sterns' formula to Mexico. Bruce thanks him before Crawford hangs up after being found by Talbot. Giving Bruce some time, Crawford plays coy till the troops find the stuff on Sterns. They leave Crawford behind, who smiles, setting the whole thing up.
As Holden Holliway (F. Murray Abraham) watches the Hulk fight on the news, he gets a call from Jennifer. Bruce tells Jennifer where their journey goes. Jennifer asks for her private files. Holden's hesitant, but it's an emergency. He sends them with access to a private carrier, wishing her good luck.
In a holding cell, Betty and Ross have a heated discussion. Betty hates Ross for not accepting Bruce even before New Mexico. Ross doesn't want to lose another loved one. Betty's surprised since Ross hasn't talked about Mom for a while. Interrupted by Talbot, saying that if Ross helps him, he'll forgive Ross and Betty of all crimes. Despite Betty's begging, Ross leaves her in the cell.
With Sterns' fly drone, we see Jennifer and Bruce arrive in Mexico, looking for Jennifer's source. Unknowingly, Talbot's squad follows them covertly. Ross warns to step further back, but Talbot refuses. Somehow, Bruce sees them, which makes Bruce and Jennifer run through the streets. In chase scenes, they outsmart the troops, disguising themselves as local folk. Talbot throws his headset as Ross smiles.
Jennifer knocks at a shabby gas station, pretending to be a delivery boy. The door opens for Jennifer to swarm in. Fighting's heard as Bruce sees Jennifer flying. Someone shouts insults till She-Hulk rushes past, and a loud slam's heard. Bruce enters to see Titania/Mary MacPherran (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) restraining She-Hulk. Bruce distracts Titania, and She-Hulk lands a sucker punch knocking Titania out.
After waking up, Titania asks how Jennifer found her. Jennifer jokes it's easy to search for her ex-best friend. Hearing that, Titania states how their friendship failed after She-Hulk was born. Accusing Jennifer of being busy with superhero fandom, she ignored her (only) B.F.F. Jennifer accuses Titania of being jealous. That's why she needed the supervillain's attention to feel special. After hearing enough, Bruce lets out a Hulk-like roar stopping them. Titania realizes who Bruce is and why they've come.
Titania tells them she's had to take high-priced equipment to a secure facility. Jennifer asks for directions as a last favor. She agrees relevantly. Bruce and Jennifer talk as Bruce is afraid of being put in an unsafe… Bruce begins to fade, dropping his glass. Jennifer checks them till she, too, starts to fade. Titania remarks she had one job left. Soldiers wearing red octopus patches take them.
Talbot's men begin to approach but see strange people taking Jennifer and Bruce. With Ross's advice, Talbot reluctantly orders them to follow them.
Slowly Bruce wakes up; Sterns walks in with Sinthea Shmidt. They argue, which leads to her smacking Sterns. After she leaves, Bruce begins to recover. Sterns apologizes to Bruce but doesn't mean it. After Bruce presses him for answers, Stern reveals how he tested endlessly to replicate Bruce's exposure to the gamma bomb. After repeated failures, Stern theorized that Bruce's blood-relative genes were the key. But Bruce's family tree was limited. Stern saw how Jennifer recovered from an impossibly repairable injury. When Jennifer transformed into She-Hulk, Stern found the breakthrough he wanted. When Jennifer's She-Hulk became a celebrity, Stern couldn't continue more research. But since the gerbil went after the wrong person, Stern having both of them here is what he considers a bonus. Stern smiles wickedly, beginning to take their samples.
General Talbot and his squad covertly enter the underground Hydra facility. Staying behind, Ross goes to check on Betty, who's somehow escaped with Ross's badge.
Asleep from blood loss, Bruce's usual nightmare disturbs him. Sterns happily chuckles, taking more of Bruce's blood. Jennifer struggles with her restraints. Sterns notes how their restraints are made of an unknown metal called Adamantium. Also, they're pumped with elephant tranquilizers. Jennifer calls Sterns a spineless twerp. Angered, Sterns walks up to her, wishing he didn't hire such idiots to kidnap her. After accidentally causing her mother's death, he gave Jennifer Bruce's blood. But after her mother's funeral jump-started her powers, Sterns stopped feeling bad. With them both, he can finally perfect his work. Just then, Sinthea Shmidt walks in, taking control. Forcing Sterns out, Sinthea Shmidt / Madame Hydra reveals their true goal to create Hulk-like super soldiers rivaling Captain America. Suddenly, Ross and Talbot's forces storm in. Sterns slips back to the lab due to Hydra's gunfight with Talbot's forces. Ross arrives, sees Betty and chases after.
Sterns quickly formulates a potion, hoping to advance his intellect and muscular strength. Aware of side effects, Sterns doesn't care and is tired of being helpless. Sinthea Shmidt catches him red-handed, ordering him to surrender at gunpoint. Suddenly, Betty rushes in, distracting Hydra's command. A notification is heard that the formula is done.
Before anyone moves, Sterns injects the quickly-made formula into his neck. Sterns laughs but begins letting out a blood-curdling scream. He groans, holding his head. Hydra orders him to his feet, but Sterns's head shoots up. He slowly gets up, laughing wickedly. His head grows enormous, and his skin turns green. He monologues that he's always been a follower... But now, he can finally be… THE LEADER. Sterns mind-melts the agents as Sinthea Shmidt escapes. Sterns unleashes his test subjects with his mind, causing chaos in the facility.
Betty tries to release Bruce, but Leader stops her by force-choking her. Ross runs in to see this shooting at Leader. The bullet stops in midair. The Leader turns to Ross, tossing Betty aside. He begins to hurt Ross. As Ross screams, Betty goes to free Jennifer. Leader enjoys Ross kneeling to him. Suddenly, a beaten-up Talbot uses his omega sonic ray to disable Leader. The vibrations disturb Leader's brainwaves. Quickly, She-Hulk lands a flying knee on Leader, sending Leader through the windows. She-Hulk checks Betty, Bruce, and Ross. Before they go, a beaten-up Talbot stops them with an Omega Sonic Ray gun. Despite Ross's pleas, Talbot goes to shoot until Titania bends the gun. Betty angrily knocks Talbot out. Titania admits to buyer's remorse for She-Hulk.
Meanwhile, Leader wreaks havoc with his animal mutants. They tear through Hydra's and Talbot's men. Sinthea Shmidt tries to escape, but The Leader follows her. After sacrificing her men, she manages to escape.
Desperate for escape, they ask Bruce to go green. They get attacked by the monsters. She-Hulk and Titania fight them off, but it isn't enough. Too weak, Bruce refuses to change due to his fear of hurting Betty. Betty disagrees since she doesn't see the Hulk but the man she vowed to love. Finally, at peace, Bruce weakly stands up with his eyes green from memories of Betty and his nightmares disappearing. She-Hulk struggles with a poodle, to her chagrin. Suddenly, the beast's sent flying. She-Hulk sees Hulk breathing hard. Concerned, She-Hulk checks if Bruce's still there. Hulk looks at Betty, then crosses his heart. Seeing this, Betty says, "Hulk... Smash," Hulk cracks a smile turning to fight the monsters. She-Hulk compliments Betty, noting Bruce's one lucky guy. She-Hulk joins Hulk in fighting off the monsters, with Titania helping Betty and Ross to safety.
After beating the monsters, the Leader stops them with his mind boasting about how he should thank them. They helped unlock his full potential. When he puts them under again, he may also gain their strength. With his powers and their strength, no one, not even a giant alien in space, could stop him. Betty orders Titania to distract him, which fails. With The Leader distracted, Betty yells to shake Leader's brain waves with solid vibrations like the Omega Sonic Ray Talbot used. She-Hulk and Hulk nod and collectively clap vibrations to take down The Leader strugglingly. Ross offers to stall Talbot so Betty, Bruce and Jennifer can escape. They get out as Jennifer and Titania have a last goodbye, with Titania sucker-punching Jennifer, returning the favor.
As Hydra agents and monsters are contained, Talbot arrives, demanding Ross give up the Leader and the locations of the Hulks. Since the lab is a Hydra base, it automatically falls into S.H.I.E.L.D. territory. Before Talbot responds, Admiral Westbrook (Robert Patrick) arrives and threatens to expose a surprised Talbot for unlawful practices. Ross won't, though, in exchange for Banner's and Walter's privacy. Frustratingly, Talbot agrees but asks Ross why. Ross explains he loves Betty too much to continue questioning her choices. Besides, Betty and Bruce earned their honeymoon.
Bruce and Betty enjoy time on the beach. Jennifer and Bruce thanked each other by calling each other after Jennifer showed up to date as She-Hulk for the first time in a long time. Jennifer asks how they're enjoying their wedding present. Betty thanks her and then goes for a refill.
Getting their refills, a guy bumps into Betty making her spill. Bruce talks to him, but he slaps Bruce. Trying to stay calm, Bruce begins to warn him. "You don't wanna make me angry... You wouldn't like me..." Betty knocks the jerk out of nowhere. Shocked, Bruce jokes that she needs help with her anger. Betty shoots him a look which makes him get new drinks.
Mid-Credits Scene: In a S.H.I.E.L.D. holding center. Sterns is drugged up as Crawford rolls in. Crawford thanks Sterns for his research and notes he's enhanced it. Crawford gets up from his wheelchair and removes his sunglasses to reveal his dark green eyes. He wickedly smiles…
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