What can top marrying a hooker, stealing Mike Tyson's tiger and a cop car, kidnapping a criminal lord and pulling out your own tooth? That's Vegas, right! What can top that? Well, apparently the topper is: Bangkok.
Irony. That's the comedic angle explored by The Hangover Part II, a slant that has drawn ire from critics for it's lack of a new storyline. But let's be honest, how are you going to top The Hangover? An attempt to create a new storyline would have very likely fallen flat on its face. However, exploring the irony of having yet another night of insane shenanigans full of dastardly consequences, all of which were permanently missing from the ole memory banks...happen AGAIN!??! Irony begins to look like an inviting angle, right? It requires the same amount of creative genius that a new storyline might--it just shifts that genius into coming up with new slants on an already historic tale.
This time, it's Stew's turn to get hitched. He's met a beauty from Thailand. With her strong family connections to her native land, the wedding is to be held there. That means, Phil, Doug and Alan join Stew (Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms) for a trip to the neighboring hemisphere. Stew is already having trouble with the in-laws, specifically his father-in-law, who likens Stew to boring, tasteless rice in the ole coveted pre-wedding dinner toast. Sure, papa-in-law is just being protective, but his real pride and joy is his son. Enter Teddy. Teddy is a budding genius. He's a handsome, 16 year old that is already in pre-med at Stanford and who takes cello play to classical heights. Yes, everyone loves Teddy, except Alan. Alan is equally protective of the wolfpack, whose membership seems to be stalled at four with no new pack members allowed. Meanwhile, the bachelor party is nixed with clear memories still in tow of the Vegas night that will actually never be remembered. Instead, it's a quiet night on the beach with a bonfire, some beer and a bag of marshmallows. Yadayadayada...Phil, Stew and Alan wake up befuddledly in the middle of Bangkok's grunge with pounding headaches and a whole host of problems to accompany them.
Forget the critics. I loved it. Another 5-Star effort for the wolfpack. Yes, it is the same story, but as already mentioned, I think the creative genius here stems from the irony of a truly 'once-in-a-lifetime' series of events happening twice, with the recreation of a previously incredible storyline holding all new 'same-but-different' twists. No, they didn't steal a tiger...this time, it's a drug-lording monkey. No, they didn't lose Doug again...this time, it's Teddy, the family crown jewel of Stew's wife to be. No, Stew didn't marry a hooker in Vegas...this time, he just--well, let's leave a few surprises, shall we?
The Hangover Part II ...see it and see it BIG! That's it for me for another week of avoiding mowing the yard...it didn't need it this week anyway so I'm just going to fire up the grill and commence with the weekend de Memorial!!! Enjoy!
True...OUT!
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