Hangover Part II

Hangover Part II

Synopsis:"Monkey Business" ensues, as the nerdy groom (Stu, the dentist) along with his buddies, the "Wolfpack" cut to the chase (again) in Hangover Part II. The trio hunt desperately this time around, for the younger brother of the bride-to-be, lost in Thailand following a mind-numbing night of outrageous shenanigans.

Genre: Comedy

Released: May 2011

Starring: Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis

Directed by Todd Phillips and written by Craig Mazin, Scott Armstrong,Todd Phillips

The laughs as compared to the original Hangover Part I have definitely dwindled, and the freshness of a creatively written sequel, is well, not so fresh. Many reviewers have doled out a weak, negative stance (largely a 2.5 stars out of 5) on this film that stubbornly and successfully still exerts a belly laugh out of everyone at least at some point during the film... even if not until the very end. Upon returning home, some unexpected memory of a moment from this film emerges, forcing a spontaneous laugh out loud days later, and viewing this trailer, recounting the film, I find myself snickering-again.

A lack of diversion from the original storyline does not help matters. Other than the time frame two years later, a different locale, and a new groom, where is the originality? This film is not built around an intelligent plot, revelation, or self-discovery but that is not the intention. Although Stu, the nerdy dentist (Ed Helms) garners the strength by the end of the flick to actually take a stand on his life. Hangover II hovers at an absurd threshold, raunchy, sometimes gross, and yes, mindless humour, that surfaces in the final ten minutes of the film, so much so, that the audience bursts with laughs. The goofy simplicity of man buddies caught in a web of juvenile delinquency-again- it seems, is what the mainly youthful audience has turned out in droves to see. In just four weeks since this movie’s release, Hangover Part II has easily raked in over $235,000,000, and mounting. Not bad for some goofy guys screwing up a bachelor party, and chasing around Thailand desperately seeking a 9-finger sixteen year old.

The intent of the flick appears to provide that welcome, fun, specialized escape from everyday doldrums, from the persistent recession that insists on clinging to our being. The storyline is built around a bachelor party which this time around for the "Wolf Pack" was supposed to be a quiet, safe, non-exciting brunch celebration. Predictably the event evolved into a mind-numbing night of gallivanting around an exotic land, encountering one disastrous predicament to the next.

The plot keeps us busy dodging Thailand gangsters; particularly the reappearance of the super-hyper, Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) and the trio’s regrettable discovery and rather close examination of his “sizeable” part. Kick-box trained monastery inhabitants are not to be reckoned with, a visit to a nightclub with explicit not-the-norm performers, tattoo tribulations, and the tender relationship between paranoid Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and a rather delinquent monkey, each contribute to the Wolf Pack’s antics. Even Mike Tyson returns, to add appropriate continuity from the first film. The backdrop scenes in musty Bangkok, Thailand emphasize the dilapidated parts of town, so hot, filthy, and crowded, you can smell the festered sweat and feel crime lingering in the air.

As in the first installment, the men awake in the morning in a blank hazy stupor, with no account at all of the night’s activities. Phil (Bradley Cooper) holds the group together, guiding the motley trio while they search for the bride-to be’s barely sixteen year old brother Teddy, (Mason Lee) whose only clue of his whereabouts from the night prior was left in a glass; his severed finger. Grungy, greasy, grime, does not camouflage the hunky Phil, so for the female audience, this is good. Although the dialogue is frustratingly simple, the story prods on, fueled by its blunt comical bits and pieces. Further exploring Alan’s (Zach Gianfiankis) paranoid persona was truly hilarious, and he remains for many, the favorite character. He is unique and bizarre, carrying the film (again) with his childlike ignorance/innocence, in such a weird and wacky way that you truly grow more attached to him, as well as his new found monkey buddy. Sensible Stu (Ed Helms) is typically terrified, and stressed to the max, adding intensity to the various sticky scenarios.

The content is most suitable for the 20-30ish crowd who does not want to think about a plot, and yearns to laugh, and a very mindless reprieve for the older set with a few crazy laughs thrown in the mix. The sometimes crude content "crosses" some sexuality boundaries, and vulgar language abounds, so be prepared. Yes, I look forward to Hangover Part III which is rumoured to be in the works.