The Hangover 2 Review: Save Your Money, You’ve Seen This Before
May 27, 2011 by Keshaunta Moton
Filed under Feature, feature overlay, Movies
Back in 2009, the world was shocked and delighted as the Wolf Pack burst onto the scene in the comedic buddy film titled The Hangover; in which three best friends wake up from their wild and raunchy antics in Las Vegas to find themselves saddled with a strange baby, a stolen tiger, and missing one very important groom. The Hangover was a surprise comedy hit, pleasing audiences and critics alike, raking in millions and millions of dollars, and catapulting its three male leads to superstardom.
With such momentum, there is no surprise that the producers decided to follow its flash success with their newest offering The Hangover 2; a film that differs from its predecessor in every possible way while still being essentially the same movie. The Hangover 2 is formulaic, crude, and at the end of the day just plain sad, as it tries to capture the magic of Hangover by stealing and replicating every great moment in a bastardized version of comedy.
We begin Hangover 2 much the same as we began Hangover, a run-down Phil calling up Tracy, (the bride in the first film who now holds no significance except to recall a brief moment of nostalgia) to tell her that the guys have once again screwed up after a wild night of partying. Then, of course, we rewind back in time to find out just how the guys got here. After his first impetuous and short-lived trip to the altar, Stu (Ed Helms) is once again getting married, this time, to his lovely fiancée Lauren (Jamie Chung). He gathers his best buds Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha), along with Doug’s brother-in-law, the reluctantly invited Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Teddy (Mason Lee), Stu’s teenaged soon-to-be brother-in-law to travel to Thailand for the wedding. To say that the family relationship is tense would be accurate as Lauren’s father has a strict reign over the family ties.
There are two things you need to know about Lauren’s father. First of all, he hates Stu. He hates that this inoffensive “white rice” mush of a man is marrying his daughter and he would stop this wedding if he could. Secondly, he loves his son Teddy, whom he showers with an abrasive and strict command, pushing the boy to become a brilliant cellist and future doctor against his reluctant will. After Lauren’s father gives a particularly wounding speech at the rehearsal dinner, Stu’s best friend Phil opts to take the guys out for a beer on the beach. The next morning, Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up in a hotel room somewhere in Bangkok, with a monkey, a face tattoo, and the missing Teddy’s ring finger sitting in a bowl of water. The guys have no memory of what happened the night before, and their only hope at quickly catching up dies with Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong), an invited guest of Alan’s who apparently overdoses on cocaine. Frazzled, the guys try to piece together the night before, hide Chow’s body, and find the lost Teddy before he gets swallowed up in Bangkok. But as the guys delve deeper and deeper into the night’s activities, they find some unsettling truths in a world of crime and addiction that makes Stu wonder if he’s really ready for marriage.
First off, if you’ve already seen The Hangover, there is no need for you to go see The Hangover 2, because between the two films the only thing that has changed is the character focus and location. Instead of looking for Doug, the story revolves around finding Teddy in time to make it for Stu’s wedding. And instead of Vegas, the guys are running around the locales of Bangkok, following one false lead after another. Hangover 2 follows strictly in the footsteps of its predecessor; from Alan’s attachment to their helpless new member to the hostage crisis and Chow’s leaps from unexpected places, this film is a paint-by-numbers affair that while trying to recreate the magic of the first film, completely manages to miss what made it so special in the first place.
Part of The Hangover’s mass appeal was because it was so new and unexpected; a fresh and unfiltered look at a male bonding party gone awry. It was special not because of what the characters did, but because no one else had done it before. It was so insane and preposterous, so far away from the norm, that it became a class of its own. Instead of continuing to offer us a different take on the unexpected, Hangover 2 gives us more exactly what we expected from The Hangover but just pushes it to another level; a darker level that this bromance comedy is completely unprepared to handle.
The makers of this film approached it in a completely one-dimensional manner. This was supposed to be a comedy, so they only focused on the ‘ha-ha’ angle of everything no matter the damaging, and life-altering moments that happen in between. The characters’ cavalier attitudes to these horrible and horrifying events are really quite reprehensible. I don’t care who you are, having your finger cut off is going to be a traumatic experience that deserves more than just a passing nod. The fact that nothing seems to affect these characters show that they are either shallow or deeply, deeply flawed.
But don’t get me wrong, Hangover 2 is quite funny and major credit goes to Zach Galafianakis for this. He is endearing, simple, and insane; in short he makes this movie. Without him, this movie would have completely failed. Bradley Cooper does a very fine job of looking very fine in every scene that he is in. And Ed Helms, well, he’s in it too. I love Justin Bartha as Doug, just because he was the only one smart enough to be out of this movie for most of the time. This film also stars Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Tambor, and Bryan Callen. There is a brief cameo by Mike Tyson, but that’s completely unnecessary as it adds nothing to the film, just like so much else. Hangover 2 is R rated, and with good reason: it’s gross.
On another note: as a woman, and some man’s future wife, I have a MAJOR problem with the ending of this film. That personally makes this movie revolting to me; the ending was too quick and decidedly undeserved. There were so many issues that was just dropped and brushed aside with no affect and that is not only a shame- that should be criminal. I know that this is all fake, but aren’t movies supposed to be a depiction of life; shouldn’t they have some sense of honesty in them. The beauty of The Hangover is that was all harmless fun with a credible progression towards the ending; this is not the case with its sequel, and I’ll leave it at that.
Overall, the challenge of any sequel film is how to continue the story and spirit of the first film while maintaining a unique and fresh voice that is all its own. By piggy-backing on the original, Hangover 2 has done nothing new with this franchise, and in fact goes to show just how hard it is to make magic twice. The same antics that we’ve seen in the first film don’t hold up as well a second time, and this film has nothing more or new to offer. If, by some chance, you’ve managed to make it this far without seeing The Hangover 2, do yourself a favor and don’t.
Skip it.
Loved! Loved! Loved! It has to follow the same story-line as the first movie! ITS CALLED A SEQUEL for crying out loud! It wouldn’t be “hangover 2″ if a) they didn’t get drunk, b) lose one of their friends, c) attend a wedding. Its the whole premise/idea of Hangover. That’s what we love about it!
Loved how they connected it at the end! Laughing through the whole thing!
I totally, totally agree with this critic. I absolutely love the first movie – in fact it’s one of my all time favourites. I was so looking forward to the second one – I knew it might not be as funny or live up to how much I enjoyed the first one, but I thought it would still be a good film. Well, I feel almost traumatised from watching this! Why did they change the characters so much and make them all quite horrible?? Alan was weird/funny in the first one, in this one he is just weird/mean. And I can’t even begin to describe how sick it made me feel with what they had Stu’s character get up to. And then they think, after all these horrible dark moments in the film which aren’t resolved, that they can make a ‘happy ending’ because the wedding goes ahead! A happy ending would have been Stu’s girlfriend telling him and her dad to &%$@ off!!! This film was just awful.
I read through some of the comments and I am shocked that people tried to make this movie into something serious or a put down to Thai people. Lighten up….Perhaps people without a sense of humor should not see this movie. It is not meant to be literal. It is a comedy. If you take it seriously and pick at everything then you lose the point of the whole movie… to make you laugh.
I totally disagree with the Hangover II haters. I LOVED the movie! It had me really laughing towards the middle of the movie and I didn’t stop. It was definetly NOT a disappointment. I highly recommend this movie…don’t compare it to the last Hangover movie but enjoy it has a whole new movie. It really is funny!
I’d rather have a massive throbbing hangover headache than to watch that “weak rice” Hangover 2. It’s “jok” not a funny joke. The critic is right on the mark. Hangover 2 offers nothing new. As someone who has lived in Bangkok, it was painful to see these dork characters crapping up the soi with their “Oh no! What has happened to us?” whining. As to the people who enjoyed it, great! I’m glad you enjoyed it. But seriously, this movie to me was garbage, a cash grab on an American holiday weekend. I guess when Americans are so used to the cookie cutter crap fed to them, they forget there are funny comedies out there–comedies that don’t get confused between light and dark. Wow, Hangover 2 sucked.
Totally agree – if you saw 1 – then quit while you are ahead!
The movie is good but same old shit from the first movie. I rather torrent it.
Movie critics are failed screenwriters. Just like food critics are failed chefs. No, movies are not supposed to be depictions of real life. Heck, if I wanted to see a “depiction” of real life I’d not go to the movie, instead I’d just sit around and wallow in my own mediocrity. Movies are supposed to entertain us and make us forget how boring our real lives are.
So, I guess maybe this movie actually impressed the reviewer so much that her ego became inflamed and out of jealousy (that she did not write it) started probing a little too deep, in order to find fault.
It’s a comedy. It’s funny. There is no profound meaning in it.
Keshaunta I just saw The Hangover Two, and I have to agree with everything you have written here. You mention the exact problems I had with the film, and make a good comment on sequels in general as well. I was really looking forward to it because I enjoyed the first one so much and it totally let me down. Great review.
I swear critics have no sense of humor. See this movie. This is one of those films you’ve got to see alon with other people. I saw it today and couldn’t stop laughing. Critics need to stop trying to find deep meaning with every film and just freaking laugh and enjoy.
The first Hangover movie….loved it. Saw it the first night it came out and then went again the next night. Tasteless, raw humor, but I never remember laughing so hard. Went to see Hangover II and it was clearly an effort of duplication which it was unsuccessful and just went too far over the line. Without Brad Cooper just looking delicious in the entire movie and Doug just being so unknowingly insane, the best “joke” of the movie was the Tyson tattoo on the dorky guy. A true letdown. I was really hoping for more than what it was.
I dont understand why people dislike this movie so much. It is just as if not funnier than the first hangover. So what if it is similar in a lot of ways, if you dont find this funny and worth while you are obviously not a true fan of the art of comedy.
I agee with D-Bo, guyz watching the movie in the theater are rolling on the floor laughing, i guess all you critics watched the movie on a rented DVD, plz go enjoy the movie in a movie theater along with hundred’s of Hangover Fans, stop critizing just for the heck of it……. it’s a funny movie and i really njoyed watching……..
I wish someone had warned me not to waste $0.99 renting a DVD of the first crappy movie. I had never seen it, and thought that before seeing the sequel, I should see the first one. WHAT A WASTE of two hours of my life. The first movie was not funny and offensive. And yes, I do have a sense of humor. In fact, I laughed so hard watching “Bridesmaids” that I missed half of the jokes while laughing.
The Hangover was lame and juvenile. I’ll now happily skip the sequel. There’s a difference between being irreverent and crossing into inappropriate territory. The fact that people thought the first movie was funny just proves that the world is populated by idiots.
All u people who enjoyed the child sale for comedy are sick…
I am Thai. It so hurts when these kinda movies presented my country like this!
Blah, blah, blah. All of you who are shocked and terrified at a little innocent poking at serious real world matters all need to lighten up. It sickens me to see people who have a giant pole up their ass which causes them to be so dark and moody instead of sharing a laugh with a few of their friends at the movies. During the movie did we ever see a kid getting sexually abused? No, of course not. If you want to view a disgusting movie, look at the works of a Mr. John Waters. Also, boss, you are spot on about how critics trash all these popular movies and then give complete shit-fest movies amazing scores even though their box office income is a fraction compared to the latest box office biggie. So, just a quick recap: quit being depressing during a comedy film, laugh sometimes and make sure to never over think something heard or seen in a movie. The matter of mentioning child selling and what not was simply a misunderstanding on the character’s side, it is not any of the actor’s fault. And I swear, if I someone of African decent trying to take legal action against Tod Phillips because one of his character’s used to N-word, I will freak out.
yes i do agree with some of you, the movie is more better than the first one. this the film that you can enjoy with your friends not with your family. don’t just sit and criticize it becouse their are many topics to do …..
This is one of the most despicable and offensive films I have ever seen. Child trafficking, child exploitation, offensive sexual content, animal abuse, and there is even a scene where a Buddhist monk is beating the 3 principle characters in acts of violence, something a monk would never do. We walked out of the movie early, demanded a refund, been busy posting on social networks to boycott this film, and are on a mission to have this movie pulled from theaters. This is something I have never done before which demonstrates how offensive this film is. I will make it a point to never see any films that these actors are in. What is even more disturbing is that the first Hangover was so funny so hilarious, that it is a reasonable expectation for this to be similar, but we are duped into being exposed to extremely offensive activity and behavior, nothing funny about this!
i want to just say to sarah that she really needs to get a sense of humor.child trafficking is no doubt a horrible thing and in noway is it ‘glamourised’ in the movie.the joke was about the misunderstanding created and not about a child being sold!comedy films are meant to show even serious issues as comic.the film isn’t meant for society improvement anyway.anyone who loved the first movie should definitely watch the second part cause apart from a few internet reviews there is not a single person i know who watched the movie and wasn’t rolling on the floor laughing!
I get really tired of critics all they do is bitch and moan when a ‘popular with the people’ so to speak movie comes out but every single love story which is cringe worthy at best gets 2 thumbs up
I wish the critics of the future actually look at weather or not the movie is actually good I understand that the movie shares quite a lot of similarities with the first movie but so what it is still a unique and original concept
You all were very wrong! This movie is hilarious. Id advise every1 I know to see it!
Acutally, I saw them both and they are both very funny. Yes, they are similar but they are so good.
These reviews are unbelievable. I’m fed up of reading the same thing again and again.
When you go watch a James Bond film, you expect there to be a lot of action,
gadgets etc. When you watch Harry Potter you expect to see Wizardry. It’s exactly the same with The Hangover 2, you expect them to get pi**ed and not remember what happened.
Go see The Hangover 2, it’s a great film. Ignore reviews, they’re pointless. I thought this film would be terrible, but it was amazing. It easily matched the first one.
i just saw the movie and the theater was full everybody was laughing i think it was great sorry but i think you are wrong
actually i agree with Keshaunta, Hangover 2 is a bad remake of the original. I mean shit, even down to the baby jacking off (they use a monkey instead). I’m terribly disappointed.
I don’t get it, me and the rest of cinema that Laughed their asses off loved it anyway
This film was awesome. It was liked the first, but a day later and I am planning to go watch it again. Some parts bored me, but as a whole it was so funny. I think the funniest part was the end, seeing the pictures. Maybe in number 3, we actually see the night, not the next day (not sure if that could work though).
8/10, with the first getting a 10/10 (in comedy section). I also gave super troopers a 8/10
I have to say, I was a fan of the first movie even though I felt it
crossed a lot of lines into inappropriate territory, but it was so
funny! I was sitting in a very packed movie theater tonight when the
“Thai strip club” scene caught me completely off guard. The strip club
owner was offering to sell a “young kid” for $2000. Then he said,
“Maybe more, depends on how young you want.” This got a huge laugh from
the packed house. I felt like I was going to be sick.I had to leave. I
have to believe that these producers simply don’t understand the ugly
reality of the situation. The fact is, in Thailand, and even in
America, you can certainly buy a little child if you have the
money…you can purchase somebody’s precious little child as young as
you like who has been raped up to forty times a day, drugged and often
beaten into submission. I assure you, it is the most wicked thing I
have ever encountered and American filmmakers using this as comedic
fodder is just unacceptable. Is nothing sacred? The issue of human
trafficking is incredibly serious. 1.8 million children are sold
against their will and sexually abused, transported throughout our
world each year and held captive at the hands of people who treat them
like animals. It is a huge problem and how incredibly insensitive to
make a joke like this. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting a child
who has been rescued from this atrocity, I assure you, you won’t think
it is funny any longer. It takes a lifetime for these kids to recover
from their trauma and abuse. I would just ask you to please consider
the incredible power and influence you have been given and use it
wisely. You have the extraordinary privilege as film makers to impact
the world. Please consider the thousands of men and women around the
world who have dedicated their lives and resources to rescue and
rehabilitate children who are bought and sold in modern day slavery.
Please educate yourselves and exhibit some grace and respect for their
lives. People have given up everything to fight against this horror
show and here comes America, glamorizing evil yet again. I don’t
usually chime in on these things, but this totally shocked me.
The Hangover part 2 is sooooooooo funny, all you critics dont know what your talking about and judging from the packed cinema and comments from the crowd I believe its funnier and better than the 1st one!
I have to agree with D-Bo… I often times find myself seeing a movie that a critic might have a negative response toward because my tastes seem to be the exact opposite. So thank you for confirming that I need to go see this one!
“I don’t care who you are, having your finger cut off is going to be a traumatic experience that deserves more than just a passing nod. That fact that nothing seems to affect these characters show that they are either shallow or deeply, deeply flawed.” I agree with you that the loss of a finger, the overdose of a human being, the “consensual” sex between a man and a transvestite are all serious things that are made out to be not so serious in the movie the Hangover II, I feel there is something to be learned in all this. I can not tell you how many times I have woken up and have had no recollection of some things I did prior to going to sleep. I have woken up and all too often have felt ashamed and embarrassed for my lack of control with my drinking. Of course in the movie it is not suggested the characters are alcoholics because we learn that they were drugged, but people all over the globe are drinking excessively and waking up with hangovers, some are waking up in jail or in the hospital, or worse. Yet when a movie like this is made we just think its a comedy? How about finding some meaning behind their apathy? I think if the characters in this movie don’t take these things seriously its because there’s a message behind that.
“I don’t care who you are, having your finger cut off is going to be a traumatic experience that deserves more than just a passing nod. That fact that nothing seems to affect these characters show that they are either shallow or deeply, deeply flawed.” I agree with you that the loss of a finger, the overdose of a human being, the “consensual” sex between a man and a transvestite are all serious things that are made out to be not so serious in the movie the Hangover II, I feel there is something to be learned in all this. I can not tell you how many times I have woken up and have had no recollection of some things I did prior to going to sleep. I have woken up and all too often have felt ashamed and embarrassed for my lack of control with my drinking. Of course in the movie it is not suggested the characters are alcoholics because we learn that they were drugged and thus the reason why they have no recollection of the previous night, but people all over the globe are drinking excessively and waking up with hangovers, some are waking up in jail or in the hospital, or worse. Yet when a movie like this is made we just think its a comedy? How about finding some meaning behing their apathy?
Eh, you critics are all the same: “dun see it bcuz it r like 1 one”. Of course they would make the second like the first, because it was so damn successful! I am tired of critics only talking about how they are the same, please make a valid arguement about why you shouldn’t see the film beside the fact that it mimics the first, like all sequels do! Also, I very much enjoyed the film, and by the reactions from the crowd, I have to say people are loving it more than the first.