"The Fly II": Underrated Gross-Out Fun, But Where's the Heart?

Alright, so last night I finally got around to revisiting "The Fly II." Look, I know it doesn't hold a candle to Cronenberg's original. That first film is a legit, body horror masterpiece. But I gotta admit, I kinda enjoyed it for what it is: a gooey, practical effects-driven monster movie. The effects team really went for it, especially with Martin's transformation sequences. That cocoon scene? Yeesh, nightmares. Plus, the practical puppetry is top notch. What I didn't love as much was the story. Goldblum brought so much pathos and tragedy to Brundlefly. Eric Stoltz is fine, but the film treats him more like a lab experiment than a person, and that kinda undermines the whole emotional core. I mean, his forced evolution orchestrated by Bartok Inc. is a decent concept, but it felt less like a cautionary tale and more like…evil scientists being evil for the sake of it. The romance angle with Daphne Zuniga felt forced, too. And honestly, that dog transformation? Brutal stuff, even for me. I know a lot of people trash this film, but watching it now, I appreciate the commitment to practical effects and the sheer go-for-it attitude. It's definitely a product of its time, and you can tell. But compared to some of the CGI-laden garbage we get these days, it's kinda refreshing to see a creature feature that gets down and dirty with latex and goo. So, yeah, not a great movie, but an entertaining one. Anyone else have a soft spot for "The Fly II" despite its flaws? Or am I just a weirdo who likes watching dudes turn into giant insects?