Hangover Part II:Sequels don’t have to suck

A Movie Review By Joseph Hagen

Most of the time, I am less than interested in seeing a sequel built on a far-fetched premise. More often than not, they are a poorly done re-hashing of the first (see Caddyshack 2 and Ghostbusters 2 for examples). Thus, when I saw the preview for The Hangover Part II, I braced myself for another sequel letdown.

Ten minutes into The Hangover Part II, my faith in sequels was, at least for the moment, restored. Funny from the first moment to the last, The Hangover Part II is an abdominal workout that Tony Horton should include in his workout videos.

Stu, played by Ed Helms, and his impending wedding nuptials in Thailand sets the stage this time around. Still reeling from the events of the first Hangover, the wolf pack seems ready to avoid a repeat of the events of the first film at any cost. Although the premise of this sequel is blatantly replayed from the first film, the locale is more exotic, the jokes are grosser and the movie contains at least 300% more images of male genitalia.

Zach Galifianakis, who stole the show during the first Hangover with his strange blend of comedic timing, quirkiness, and (somehow) charm, reprises his role as Alan. A character this needy, this weird and this accident-prone is seldom this likable. By the end of the film, I found myself laughing at the mere sight of him on screen… and director Todd Phillips allows the film to breathe enough to let the character development be funny.

The Hangover Part II is a good time in the movie house. It’s “stupid-funny” in the same way as it’s predecessor and brings the same energy and laughs as the original… Evidence that sequels do not have to stink.

Memorable quote:
“When a monkey nibbles on a penis, it’s funny in any language,” – Alan