I will be honest, The Hangover (part 1) didn't bowl me over, but It was at least surprising at times and had some kind of backbone however extraordinary the situations. But the adventurous spice of the first movie was almost completely vacant in this pitiful sequel. Muddled, incoherent to the very end, it just simply fails.
The Characters involved were their usual selves, with Bradley Cooper strutting around like a human charisma vacuum. Ed Helms has the whimpering switched to an often irritating 11 and Zach Galifianakis is.......Zach Galifainakis, whom I must admit did make me laugh around 3 times, which in fact was the only 3 times I laughed during the screen time. But did anyone of them shine at anytime? no, they continued on in their hungover state, which resulted in total loss of interest in them and their plight to find their missing buddy.
It's simply "The Hangover" set in Bangkok, a premise which I really wouldn't have a problem with if it at least matched up to the (questionable) quality of the first movie. Each scene just crawls along with embarrassingly neanderthal-esque writing in which simple swear words cause the 15 year olds in the audience to burst out in laughter. Maybe there lies the target audience, 15 year olds (experiencing their first on screen penis and boob shots) and stupid adults? I wouldn't like to say, I love a good smutty joke as much as the next man, and cried with laughter during the exploits of the team during "Jackass the Movie".
One thing this movie does accomplish rather well is using the new environment to their advantage, with sumptuous shots of the glorious jungles, coast and countryside of Thailand. Yet also treating us to delve into the seedy slum-like streets in Bangkok. But sadly for the filmmakers, this isn't a travel programme its supposed to be a comedy.
The ending (very much like the plot) is incoherent and rushed, with a pointless and condescending (who honestly cares about him?) cameo from Mike Tyson.
The Hangover Part 2 is possibly the worst comedy of the year, an uninteresting crawl through a weak plot accompanied by a band of tired actors with very few laughs between them. Just watch the first movie and ignore this one. You've seen it all before and done better!
1/5 stars
Review by Joseph S Carter
joethecornishgeek@hotmail.com
