The Hangover Part 2 (R)
Mike:
Scott:
Michael I: This week, we revisit the "Three Best Friends that Anyone Could Have" aka "The Wolfpack" aka the fellas from The Hangover, in the sequel everyone with a pulse has been waiting for.
Mike: I thought this movie was hilarious. After seeing the original I found myself wanting more and now we have it.
What did you think?
Michael I: Nothing compares to the originality of the first movie, and the same goes for Part II.
Mike: Yes, but did you like it?
Michael I: Yes, but with reservations. It's hard to follow up a movie like The Hangover with a sequel, but it kept me laughing so I can't complain.
Mike: I think most people are expecting it to be similar to the first one, otherwise how can you have a Hangover part 2? I don't think people went to the first one looking for a plot and probably aren’t that worried about it this time either.
Michael I: It had a mix of familiarity that some fans may cringe at -- but won't care because of it's original comedy. It still kept me guessing despite what felt like a "plot retread" of the first movie (except for a different locale).
Mike: Something that helps this movie is the exotic locale of Thailand. Everyone is familiar with Las Vegas, but how many people watching the movie know anything about "Thighland", let alone having visited?
The unfamiliarity helped keep me off balance and guessing.
Michael I: I think most of America knows Bangkok for it's sex trafficking and Third-World rules -- or lack thereof -- which plays perfectly to a follow up to their Vegas hi jinx.
Mike: We have the original Wolfpack of Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis.
The filmmakers were smart enough to realize that Zach was the breakout performance of the last film and they highlight his role.
Michael I: And Zach still garners the biggest laughs.
Mike: I didn’t feel like it was a replay of his last performance, but a natural continuation.
Michael I: Right. Also, old characters are enhanced, like Mr. Chow (played by Ken Jeong) and new characters are introduced, like the family that Stu is marrying into.
Sorry, no Heather Graham in this one!
Mike: No. but we do get an unknown actress who is probably going to be more memorable from this outing.
There are big laughs in this movie and I am just sorry at how many are spoiled in the trailers.
Michael I: As much as I liked this flick, Bridesmaids (another recently reviewed movie) gives Hangover Part II a run for the money in the comedy department.
Mike: I'll be honest -- I think that Bridesmaids may actually be a better, funnier movie -- but this movie has a level of outrageousness that puts it in a different league.
Michael I: Hangover = outrageous? Agreed.
Mike: After all not every movie can get away with a drug dealing biker monkey that likes a good smoke...
Michael I: Where'd they find that guy? Now, that's terrific casting!
Mike: I wonder if he's the same one from Big Bang Theory a couple of episodes ago?
You can’t have too many smoking monkeys.
Michael I: So what are your final thoughts?
Mike: I give this 3.5 stars out of 5. I think that if you were a fan of the first Hangover, you are going to be happy with this one too.
How about you?
Michael I: You were reading my mind with that rating. 3.5 stars for me too. I may grow to love it like the original, but it had too many recycled plot points that irritated me. Maybe they rushed the script, or just decided that it was just 'good enough' to make. But I expected an evolution in the series, which Part II didn't deliver on. But with that said, it's a great comedy and provides a tonnage of hilarity.
Mike: I wasn’t so worried about the recycled plot points, because if you are here for a second Hangover, you are already buying into the premise that this crazy stuff could happen twice.
Also a heads up, that like in the first one, you will want to sit through the credits to watch the photos of what really happened.
