The Wolfpack is back.
That was the tagline used to bring fans into the theatre to see the Hangover II.
Fans came in droves to see what hijinks the Wolfpack will get into this time, but many left with a feeling of disappointment as The Hangover II failed to deliver where the first one did. Even with its many shortcomings I would have to count The Hangover II as my favorte film of 2011 – to date at least.
I will not pretend, in any way, that this movie was anything as good as the first one. Its selection as my favorite movie of 2011 thus far says as much more about Hollywood’s lackluster ability to create good films as it does for my support of this picture. In reality, I wish there was something I liked a whole lot better, but movie after movie have disappointed me as a viewer.
There were a few others with potential, but they fell way short. A couple other films I was excited about didn’t have the staying power or wide enough release to make it to a theater near me long enough to get me into the seat. A short way to describe it is that there is way too much 3-D, way too much CGI out there.
The Hangover was like a great night out with your friends. Perhaps a vacation – say to like Las Vegas. People went in droves to see Todd Phillips’ film and the antics of Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Allan (Zac Galifianakis) as they try to find their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) and race home with the clock running out before Doug’s wedding.
The fun was in piecing together the actions of the prior night which left three of the men to awaken in a room with a villa at Caesars Palace with a huge mess, a baby, a chicken and yes a tiger.
Supported by a cast that includes Mike Tyson, Heather Graham and Ken Jeong the hijinks lead to one hilarious recollection after the other until they remember where their friend was – right where they left them. The journey was so much fun we didn’t care to ask what would have happened if they just did what your mother always told you to do when you lost something – sit down and think where you had it last – from the get go.
I for one couldn’t wait for the sequel. The trailer and teaser had me chomping at the bit to get into the theater to see it, but it turned out to be pretty much the same film I had watched several times already since The Hangover’s release in 2009.
**** SPOILER ALERT *****
Fast forward to the second movie and we get to see – the exact same film again. Sure, there were differences. Vegas and the baby, Carlos, were out and Bangkok and a monkey were in. Jeong is back and even Tyson finds a way into the sequel.
The problem with the sequel is this: Ever have a great vacation – perhaps even to Vegas? Ever go to an awesome party and have a blast with your friends?
It was amazing, the time of your life, so much fun you can’t wait to do it again. The problem is you can’t do it all over again. And if you try too hard to relive the exact same party you’re going to ruin your second trip.
Your drunk friends in college were right – you can retake a class but can’t relive a party. Nor can you relive a Hangover apparently.
Instead of trying to have another great weekend party not to be forgotten, or possibly remembered in this case, the filmmakers tried too hard to relieve the first party all over again.
I’m guessing the writers took the first script and used the find and replace option to come up with the second film.
Vacation getaway but with a seedy reputation as a location – check.
Small dependent mammal – check.
Lost friend – check.
Helms’ disfiguring face alterations with big on screen reveal – check.
Helms singing a song about the pack’s situation – check.
Last-second, long-delayed, phone call to confess their malfeasances – check.
Suddenly realizing where lost friend is during phone call – check.
Finding lost friend – check.
A race to the wedding – check.
Forgotten about photos suddenly reappear – check.
Roll photos over end credits – check and mate.
It was fun for a little bit, but took a bad turn for me when Bryan Callen showed up. Callen, who played Eddie in the first Hangover film shows up again in the second film … in the exact same role.
Sure he has a different character, this time known as a club owner/black market entrepreneur Samir, but fills the exact same part in the film. And while this time he sports a fuller beard as he connects some of the pack’s dots, the fact that it’s in the exact same voice as the wedding chapel owner who did the same exact thing in the first film was so distracting to me that the film started to lose me. I don’t think I’m alone, there’s even a Facebook page about this. Then again, there is a Facebook page for everything.
All that being said, I did start this by saying this was my favorite film of 2011 so far, and that is true. I did enjoy it and I felt that while the first film was a roller coaster fans didn’t want to get off of, by the second one many realized too much time on the coaster isn’t always good either. There are other rides at the amusement park, and maybe the writers should have explored some of them as well.
***** SPOILER OVER *****
While the ride got tiresome there was a reason we stayed on that long in the first place, and that is where this movie delivered for me. It was sprinkled with chuckles. The references to the first Hangover film can’t help but make you laugh, much like discussing a good party with your friends will have you do. There were also plenty of new belly laughs as well, making this movie enjoyable.
No, the second trip wasn’t as fun as the first one, but it was more than enough to say you had a good time. That’s all I guess I needed it to do, and in that aspect the movie hit its mark.
With rumors of a The Hangover III in the works I’m already looking forward to going on another fun ride with the Wolfpack once again.
Sources:
The Hangover, The Internet Movie Database
The Hangover II, The Internet Movie Database
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Movies to Keep You Cool on Warm Summer Nights
Harry Potter and the Confused Movie Buff
Omaha’s Best Independent Theater
From Slave to Scientist