Reviewed by CLAIRE MORETON
The Hangover: Part II
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Alternate titles:
JUST LIKE THE FIRST ONE BUT ASIAN
BRADLEY COOPER BABE-FEST
CAN THEY SERIOUSLY NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING
There are those movies where the sequels are excellent. Austin Powers is one. Toy Story another. I could even mention Star Wars (the 1980s ones obviously, not Phantom Menace).
And then there are those that simply never should have been approved by a film executive, let alone allowed to permeate hideously through our lives via the big screen. Grease 2. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Anything with the word ‘Rocky’ in the title.
Fortunately for the Cooper/Helms/Galifianakis trio (good comparisons to the Harry Potter Golden Trio are unlikely to be found, trust me) The Hangover: Part II manages to gain a place the former category.
If you were expecting something drastically different to the first instalment, expect to be disappointed. The Hangover, released in 2009, was a film of original premise and fresh comedy. It grossed 13 times its budget. The Hangover: Part II, which came out on Thursday May 26 in Australian cinemas, is a film of, well, that same premise … and quite similar comedy. Sans Vegas setting. Plus Bangkok.
It could be said that the creators played it safe by following the same plot – non-linear structure, morning after a friend’s buck’s night, no recollection of what happened the night before, missing friend, re-tracing steps, hilarity ensuing – but it seems to work.
By placing the majority of the film in the city of Bangkok, it is definitely as dirty and wild as The Hangover, and there are plenty of laughs. The only reason why it would not be considered as good as the original is simply because it isn’t the original. The element of surprise and novelty is gone, but the actors – most notably sexy wolfpack leader Cooper, unfortunate incident-magnet Helms and plainly weird stay-at-home son Galifiankis – are just as brilliant and have lost none of their spark.
At the end of the day, it was amusing and well-done, and has restored a small glimmer of hope into the dangerous world of sequels – let’s just pray that The Hangover: Part III can step up to the plate.
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