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Business rating: 2.5/5 stars
Star cast: Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha.
What’s Good: Zach Galifianakis’ excellent performance; a few comic scenes.
What’s Bad: The predictable script which is on the lines of The Hangover; Bangkok as a backdrop to the drama doesn’t really work in favour of the film.
Verdict: The Hangover Part II is entertaining in parts but falls short of the high expectations.
Loo break: A few in the latter half.
Watch or Not? Watch it for Zach Galifianakis’ performance but do not expect a lot.
Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures and Green Hat Films’ The Hangover Part II is the sequel of the cult comedy film, The Hangover. While in the first film, the bridegroom Dough (Justin Bartha), and his three friends, Alan (Zach Galifianakis), Stu (Ed Helms) and Phil (Bradley Cooper), have a wild night in Las Vegas after accidentally consuming drugs, this time around, it is Stu who is getting married in Thailand.
Stu, who has not yet recovered from the after-effects of the wild night in Las Vegas, does not want Alan to attend his marriage, as it was Alan who had laced their drinks with the rape drug. But Alan, who seems to have become even weirder, is invited by Dough. Finally, the ‘wolf pack’, as Alan likes to call the group, leaves for Thailand. Accompanying them is Stu’s to-be brother-in-law, Teddy (Mason Lee).
Stu is all set for a safe and sound marriage, determined not to take even a drop of liquor with his friends till he gets married. But he is dragged by Phil for a beer. Even Stu’s fiancée (Jamie Chung) asks him to relax with beer as her father had been hard on Stu that evening.
So Stu, Dough, Teddy, Alan and Phil sit down for a quiet beer by the beach. When they wake up next morning, they find themselves in a dilapidated hotel in downtown Bangkok. While Dough is at the resort, waiting for them, Teddy has gone missing. They also have a monkey in their room and a dreaded international criminal, Mr. Chow (Ken Geong). Astounded that it has happened again, Stu wants to find Teddy and get back to the resort. But it takes him, Alan and Phil another day to find Teddy. What happens in the meantime? What do they discover about their nocturnal activities? Did Stu get married yet again (like the last time)? What about his imminent marriage? The rest of the film answers these questions.
The Hangover Part II Review – Script Analysis
The Hangover Part II is a parallel sequel where the same set of characters goes through similar circumstances, just like in the first film. This, in itself, is the script’s biggest negative point. While one expects to be entertained by the funny characters and the embarrassing situations they find themselves in, the predictability of the narrative spoils all the fun, as the viewer knows what’s going to happen next if he has seen the first part. The surprise element, which was among the highlights of the first part, is, therefore, missing in the sequel.
As such, Todd Philips, Craig Mazin and Scot Armstrong’s screenplay, although riddled with funny situations and gags, fails to make too much impact. The film also dips in the latter half when Phil, Alan and Stu set out in search of Teddy, something that is very much like their search for Dough in the first part. Moreover, the people they encounter on their journey (fighting monks, Russian drug lords, etc.) are just too stereotypical to be true. The scene, where Stu discovers that he had sex with a male prostitute when he was drunk, is not funny but rather gross. Plus, the writers’ repeated attempts to make the city of Bangkok a character in the film fall flat.
The inclusion of the monkey, Mr. Chow and an undercover agent (Paul Giamatti) adds to the entertainment value but cannot cover for the script’s inherent predictability.
However, it must be added that Alan’s weird but lovable character and his punch-lines will entertain the audience to the hilt. Also, the twist in the pre-climax is interesting. Overall, The Hangover Part II will appeal to youngsters who may not have seen the earlier film. But it will be found average by the ones who have seen the first part.
The Hangover Part II Review – Performances & Direction
Funnyman Zach Galifianakis is the best of the lot. His portrayal of the naïve and crazy Alan is just superb. He also has the best lines to mouth in the film. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Ken Jeong do good jobs too. Justin Bartha and Paul Giamatti support well. Mason Lee and Jamie Chung lend able support. Mike Tyson is fair in a short cameo.
Todd Phillips’ direction is good but it doesn’t take care of the predictability of the subject. Christophe Beck’s background score goes with the mood of the film. Lawrence Sher’s cinematography is good. Editing, by Debra Neil-Fisher and Mike Sale, is sharp.
The Hangover Part II Review– Verdict
On the whole, The Hangover Part II is average fare which will do above-average business in Indian metropolitan cities, thanks in no small measure to the popularity of the first part among the youth.
