The Hangover - Part II
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The Hangover was one of the biggest successes of 2009. Not only did it launch Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis into the limelight, it made more than several truck loads of money. More importantly, we named it the best comedy of the year. So, naturally, there was going to be a sequel, needed or not.
We pick up the action two years after that eventful night in Las Vegas, and the week when seemingly dull dentist Stu (Ed Helms) is getting married. So, naturally Phil, Doug and reluctantly Alan (Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha and Zach Galifianakis) are invited to reunite the infamous ‘wolf pack’.
The twist this time is the wedding’s talking place in Thailand, and this time Stu only wants a brunch and a single drink by the ocean with the gang (along with Teddy, his wife’s little brother). Sure enough though, they wake up in a dingy hotel room with no idea what’s happened. And Teddy’s missing.
Does anything else really need explaining? Crazy hijinks happen, gangsters get involved somewhere, a car chase occurs. It’s basically the same as the first film, but with a Taiwanese twist.
While it might pretend to be a new film though, there is absolutely nothing original about The Hangover Part 2. If it walked closer in the originals footsteps it would be clipping its ankles.
While in Vegas there was a mysterious baby, now there’s a monk. Before there was a tiger, now they wake up with a monkey. There’s even a missing party member to find. But while the original felt new, crazy and wild, this seems just lazy.
All is not lost though, for when Part 2 finds the laughs, they’re just as good as before. All too often though, the film tries too hard and goes too crazy with little effect. Whether the occasional bits of gold are worth it is all down to how much you liked the first.
The shining star in all this though, just like last time, is the cast. They still have great chemistry and carry the film through the less successful jokes.
So while this film will easily make more money than Thailand itself, it seems that The Hangover really should take some aspirin, lie down in a darkened room and not get up for a while. It would be for the best, before the comedy wells completely dry.
The Hangover Part 2 is out now.
FemaleFirst Cameron Smith
Tagged in The Hangover