Rating of
3/4
I'm Seeing Deja Vu with Hangover II
Chris Kavan - wrote on 05/29/11
I won't lie - this sequel is pretty much just like the original Hangover. Instead of missing tooth, you have a missing finger. Instead of a random baby, you have a drug-dealing monkey. Instead of wheeling around a tiger, you wheel around a silent monk. Instead on an insane Asian leaping out of trunk, you get an insane Asian leaping out of an ice chest. Instead of a missing groom, you have the bride's missing younger brother. Once again, no one has any memory of anything and must follow the random breadcrumbs they find in order to piece together a wild night in Bangkok.
Why did I like this so much then? It's because even though I pretty much knew where it was going, the characters are still the driving force and still make the movie worth watching. The jewel in the crown is Zach Galifianakis, whether he's giving a speech at a dinner that starts off like a book report on Thailand or meditating to remember and seeing everyone as kids (while drinking, parting and such) - each non-sequitur he throws out - every random thing that falls from his mouth, it makes everything better.
Ed Helms is back as the voice of reason, dentist Stu who early on is compared to bowl of rice mush by his soon-to-be father-in-law. When he wakes up with a full-on facial tattoo ala Mike Tyson (good thing that lawsuit by the tattoo artist didn't prevent the release) and later finds out his penchant for hookers is still alive and well - no matter what gender they end up - well, it once again brings out the demon inside of him.
Finally Bradley Cooper is the friend who actually wants to party. A bachelor "brunch" at the IHOP just won't do it for him. He's the brash, cocky guy - and getting winged by bullet doesn't dampen his spirits. He's also brought along as the pretty face - but it's really the interaction between the three that really makes the movie fun, even if it is a rehash.
Also along for (part) of the ride this time is Ken Jeong as the outrageous gangster Mr. Chow. One again, it's a bit over-the-top and a bit racially damning, but he has no qualms playing that role to the hilt. Plus the one car chase in the movie is worth keeping him around.
The missing person this time is played by Mason Lee - Teddy the 16-year-old genius younger brother of Stu's bride to be Lauren (Jamie Chung). He's the chello-playing, pre-med student who is the apple of his parents eye, and, as a tag-a-long and not a true member of the Wolfpack, the focus of Alan's ire, and the reason (once again) everyone ended up in a seedy motel with no memory.
Still, while it was good, be prepared for a lot of penis jokes and, hell, just a lot of penises showing up in general. While it was great for one joke, it was a bit much for one movie. Also, the whole finger thing seemed to be glossed over - if I were a pre-med, cello prodigy, I would think a missing finger would be a huge deal, if not for me, then for my parents. Yet it's all forgotten in the end.
The special guests are hit and miss. While Paul Giamatti is welcome, it felt like they had to include Mike Tyson, well just because (maybe that tattoo thing?) and Nick Cassavetes one scene as the tattoo artist was too brief and had little impact. Heck, the silent monk was a bigger hit for me.
In the end, I think your enjoyment of this film is not based on whether or not you liked the first Hangover, but rather if you liked the characters in the first Hangover.
