The Wolfpack Really is Back: The Hangover Part II Delivers Just Like the Original1

by Damon Martin

“Tracy, we really fucked up this time.”

The Wolfpack is back and in perfect form as The Hangover Part II opens in theaters and brings with it a sequel that rivals the original.

After a nearly half a billion dollar first film, director Todd Phillips brought the heat to amp up the energy for a second feature following Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug, this time as they travel to Thailand for a wedding. It’s Dr. Stu Price (well he’s really just a dentist) taking his vows this time, but he’s bringing his nearest and dearest to his fiancée’s homeland for the ceremony.

Despite his better judgment, Stu decides to invite Alan along even though he was responsible for the debauchery that took place in the first film after he roofied the entire crew – which caused the first monumental Hangover. In the sequel, Stu, Phil and Alan again find themselves in a sticky situation after another blurry night, and when they wake up in Thailand it’s Stu’s new brother-in-law-to-be Teddy that’s gone missing.

The great thing about The Hangover Part II is they don’t try to make the movie something that it’s not. It’s not an Academy Award winning script or a film that’s going to change the world. It’s a comedy – pure, crude and unapologetic.

While some will complain that the film is a carbon copy in many ways of the original, it’s that magic formula that makes The Hangover Part II as good as it is. Much like in Die Hard 2 when Bruce Willis’ character utters the phrase, “How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?,” The Hangover Part II isn’t masquerading like some in depth sequel that goes far and beyond the cope of what the original already did.

After a night out in Bangkok, Stu and the crew wake up in a hotel with no clue how they got there or what happened the night before. Sound familiar? Well it should and there’s nothing wrong with that – it’s exactly how the insanity of The Hangover Part II should begin.

Ed Helms takes Stu to a new level in this film. Starting out sober, he’s the mild mannered dentist that everyone knows and loves. But slip him something funky, and like Dr. Jeckyll, Stu has a Mr. Hyde within waiting to take over under the right chemically induced conditions. This time however Stu doesn’t find himself cozying up next to Heather Graham after a night out, but he sure does cozy up to someone, and saying anything more would ruin a BIG surprise. Bradley Cooper is back as Phil, and much like the first film he plays a great sidekick to the overall story, but still has his moments as well.

The show stealer once again is Zack Galifianakis, whose character Alan may even get a little too much attention in this film. Nevertheless, he still delivers with hilarious results. Whether it’s complaining about the fact that Stu’s new brother-in-law is tagging along, giving a toast that would leave any groom shaking in his shoes, or making inappropriate gestures with a monkey, Galifianakis is on point.

Ken Jeong gets more screen time as gangster Leslie Chow, and pulls off some brilliant comedy of his own, as does a slimmed down ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, who is back singing again. Add a smoking, drug toting monkey, and The Hangover Part II‘s supporting cast is complete, and doing exactly what they’re supposed to do – support the story and make the main characters shine.

Sure, if you’ve seen The Hangover you can pretty much guess how The Hangover Part II will begin and end, but it’s everything in the middle that makes the sequel just as much of a fun ride. The Hangover Part II picks up right where the first one left off, and when you wake up the morning after, you’ll still be laughing at the stuff you’ve seen and heard the night before.