James Absolon explains how this Pope-themed film, despite its risky premise, works
Alex Pollard reviews Hollywood's biopic of the controversial Margaret Thatcher
Though billed as a sequel, it would be more accurate to describe The Hangover: Part II as a remake to the original. The script follows all the same moves as the 2009 film, only with added vulgarity and less laughs.
Once more Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) go out for a few pre-wedding beers, only to get outrageously drunk and wake up somewhere in Bangkok with no idea where they are or how they go there. This time Stu’s the one tying the knot, but after waking up with a tattoo on his face and his soon-to-be brother-in-law missing, faces a race against time to piece together the events of the night before and make it to his wedding.
The premise of waking up hungover with no comprehension of why a baby / tiger / smoking monkey is in your room is a funny one, and there are some laughs during this scene. But just as The Hangover went downhill somewhat from here, so does the sequel, only this time far more drastically. The lack of new ideas is disappointing, and attempts to compensate with more crudeness and gross-out moments are more painful than amusing.
The film in no way tries to hide its similarities with the first film, and seems to be inviting us to reminisce over how great it was. The very first scene sees Phil on a roof apologetically explaining down the phone that ‘it happened again’. And ‘it’ turns out to be pretty much everything; a friend has gone missing who they spend the film searching for, Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) makes another naked appearance, Stu turns out to have had a forgotten sexual encounter. Even Mike Tyson makes another ill-judged cameo.
Only this time they’re in Bangkok, offering many opportunities for uncomfortable stereotyping. The portrayal and exploitation of Bangkok’s underworld does leave a bad taste, replacing the fun of the Vegas setting with something more unsettling. The ending, too, is ridiculous, and it’s hard to sympathise with such self-centred, reckless characters.
Fans of The Hangover may enjoy revisiting the situation and characters of that film, but few will deny that this sequel is considerably worse. Those that didn’t like the original, or even those who found it only fairly funny, should stay well away from this unfortunate sequel.
See The Hangover: Part Two at City Screen, York. Check out the cinema's website for times and further details.
You must log in to submit a comment.
