WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING.

Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) agrees to write a biography for a charming Arab ruler (Spiros Focas) and visits his country… where she soon learns there are cracks in the façade.

The sequel to Romancing the Stone (1984) might’ve been something if Diane Thomas, who wrote the original, was still involved, but alas. The film takes good enough advantage of its three stars, but even if there’s plenty of adventure and fun here it’s as if the going never really gets… going.

The bad guys are bland and if the highlight is a Billy Ocean song over the end credits there’s something wrong. 

1985-U.S. 104 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Michael Douglas. Directed by Lewis Teague. Song: ”When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going” (performed by Billy Ocean). Cast: Michael Douglas (Jack Colton), Kathleen Turner (Joan Wilder), Danny DeVito (Ralph), Spiros Focas, Avner Eisenberg, Holland Taylor.

Trivia: The juggling and comedy troupe Flying Karamazov Brothers make an appearance.