★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
The Hangover was one of those comedies that catch you off guard. I went to the original just expecting a few laughs and it ended up being one of the best of the year. Now comes The Hangover Part 2.

I wasn't sure how they could make sequel, but you find out early on that they made the exact same movie.

That's not to say that this is bad.  The jokes and gag's in this film push the envelope a lot farther in the first one.   But its essentially the original on steroids.

This time, Stu is getting married.  The bride is from Thailand, so the wedding is there.   Every element of this movie, beat for beat, is the same as the first.

2 nights before the wedding, Stu, Phil, Doug, and Alan and the bride's brother Teddie have "one drink" on the beach.  After one drink, the original trio of Stu Phil and Alan wake up in a motel in Bangkok, Teddie is missing.  Doug is back at the resort, because he 'went home early'


You get the same 'waking up' process, to "where's Teddie" to looking for clues, and trying to figure out exactly what happened the night before.

The movie brings the laughs, but the sense of discovery just isn't there this time.  We all know how its going to unfold.  And it goes according to formula, down to the phone call to admit they had screwed up.

The character of Alan isn't nearly as sharp as in the first movie, and the "Wolfpac" Just doesn't seem to mesh as well this time around.

Some big laughs, but inconsistent.  I left the theater with the feeling of "Been there, done that."

Who will like this movie?  People who LOVED the first Hangover, and people just out to see a raunchy laugh fest.   I don't think that the casual movie goer will enjoy this one nearly as much as the first.

I'll give this a 5 out of 10. Fair, plenty of funny, but getting stale.

Labels: 2011, New Release