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Alan (Zach Galifianakis), left, Teddy (Mason Lee), Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) examine embarrassing evidence in the comedy “The Hangover Part II.” |
I’d normally recommend skipping most of “The Hangover Part II,” then coming in for the riotous closing credits, which offer the grossest and edgiest sight gags and provoke the best-earned laughs.
Trouble is, the closing credits won’t make sense without seeing the entire movie.
So, in a sense, “The Hangover Part II” is one big, drawn-out setup for a strobing punch line, mainly the adults-only photographs flashed over the ending credits.
“Part II” faithfully replicates the elements that made its 2009 original such a wonderfully shocking and daring adult comedy hit, and the biggest-grossing R-rated comedy in Hollywood history.
Paradoxically, by doing that, the sequel fails to replicate the chief element that made the first one so innovative; we had no idea what outrageous thing might happen next.
“The Hangover” followed no formula at all; “Part II” faithfully follows the same plot with the same lying, cheating, selfish characters, essentially trading in innovation for a proven box office formula. (This is a common malady for many sequels.)
So, we know that Phil (reprised by Bradley Cooper) will call a bride-to-be (here, a Thai native named Lauren, played by Jamie Chung), apologizing for screwing things up. (Read more…)