Weekend at Bernie's II
After their adventure at Bernie's weekend house (events of "Weekend At Bernie's") accountants/programmers oafish Larry and uptight Richard return to New York only to have the insurance company they all worked for blame them for Bernie's theft of $2 million--and fire them. Larry and Richard investigate and discover that the money is somewhere in St Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Meanwhile, the Cartel Bernie was stealing the money for hires a Voodoo Queen to help them find the money. She tells Henry and Charles to steal Bernie's body and raise it from the dead to lead them to the money. Unfortunately Henry and Charles goof and Bernie can only move when he hears music. Richard, Larry, and Bernie all go to St Thomas to find the money with Claudia's aid, tailed by company security officer Hummel, who believe that Larry and Richard stole the money as well as Henry and Charles. Who will get to the money first?.
Working with a tight budget of $7.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $12.7M in global revenue (+82% profit margin).
1 win & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Weekend at Bernie's II (1993) exemplifies meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Robert Klane's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Larry and Richard are at Bernie's funeral, still traumatized from the events of the first film, trying to return to normal life while Bernie is being buried.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The mob digs up Bernie's corpse and a voodoo queen accidentally reanimates him with a curse - he moves when music plays. Larry and Richard discover Bernie is "alive" again.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The mob captures them and Bernie, the money location is still unknown, their relationship is strained to breaking point, and it seems like they'll lose everything including possibly their lives. Whiff of death as violence escalates., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The finale: executing their plan, using Bernie's dancing corpse as a distraction, confronting the mob, finding the money, resolving the voodoo curse, and escaping. Friendship proves stronger than greed., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Weekend at Bernie's II's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Weekend at Bernie's II against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Klane utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Weekend at Bernie's II within the adventure genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Larry and Richard are at Bernie's funeral, still traumatized from the events of the first film, trying to return to normal life while Bernie is being buried.
Theme
A character mentions "You guys never learn, do you?" and "Some things are better left buried" - establishing the theme about consequences and getting in over your head.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Larry and Richard's post-Bernie lives, their financial troubles, introduction of the mob searching for Bernie's hidden money, and the discovery that they need Bernie's body to find it.
Disruption
The mob digs up Bernie's corpse and a voodoo queen accidentally reanimates him with a curse - he moves when music plays. Larry and Richard discover Bernie is "alive" again.
Resistance
Larry and Richard debate whether to get involved again. They learn about the money hidden in the Virgin Islands and reluctantly decide they need to use Bernie to find it, preparing for the journey.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The fun the audience came for: Bernie dancing and moving to music in public places, the guys using his reanimated corpse to navigate the island, comedic misunderstandings, beach scenes, and the search for clues to the money.
Opposition
The mob gets closer, Bernie becomes harder to control, complications with Claudia arise as secrets are exposed, the treasure hunt becomes more dangerous, and everything starts falling apart.
Collapse
The mob captures them and Bernie, the money location is still unknown, their relationship is strained to breaking point, and it seems like they'll lose everything including possibly their lives. Whiff of death as violence escalates.
Crisis
Larry and Richard face their darkest moment, questioning their friendship and choices. They process the danger they've put themselves in and whether the money is worth it.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: executing their plan, using Bernie's dancing corpse as a distraction, confronting the mob, finding the money, resolving the voodoo curse, and escaping. Friendship proves stronger than greed.