Friday, May 27, 2011

The Hangover Part II (2011)

Reviewed by James Ryder

The Hangover 2, or more properly the faux serious title The Hangover Part II, is absurd, over-the-top, unbelievable, lowbrow and most importantly funny.  The film stars Bradley Cooper (The A-Team), Justin Barta, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifanakis (Dinner for Schmucks), reprising their roles of Phil, Doug, Stu, and Alan respectively - aka the Wolfpack.

Two years after their last hangover, Stu is getting married to Laura (Jamie Chung), after apparently dumping his Vegas bride from the first film.  Laura wishes to have the wedding in her parent's native country of Thailand and thus gives the film's location.  That's right, she exists as a plot device.  It's guys night out, "no gurlz allowd."

Despite Stu's desire to not overdo it (he originally plans a bachelor "brunch" at a pancake house), the Pack winds up hungover in Bangkok with no memory of the previous night.  Much like the film's predecessor, the Pack then spends the remainder of the movie retracing their steps to find a lost buddy, this time Stu's soon to be brother-in-law Teddy (Mason Lee).