"The Hangover Part 2" | wtsp.com

By: Holley SinnVerdict: ApprovedMost sequels are unnecessary. Unless a story is laid out as a series from the start, building a second and third installment is usually just a movie studio's way of capitalizing on a successful product. And, most sequels are not as good as the original, but somehow, they are more profitable...at least in the early weeks of their theatrical release. With the exception of films like "Toy Story 3" and the last chapter of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Return of the King", sequels, three-quels and the like don't usually go up for major awards. But, all that said, that doesn't mean a follow-up can't be entertaining. If an audience is invested in a set of characters, studios know they can milk that for everything its worth...and if they manage to churn out a decent (at the very least) product...well, there's a gold mine awaitin'. "The Hangover Part 2" is a classic example of the sequel cliche - totally unnecessary and absurd in its premise, but downright entertaining, nonetheless. And, sweet heavens, if I could just take a swim in Bradley Cooper's baby blues...."The Hangover Part 2" begins in the states where Phil (Bradley Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha) and their respective wives are preparing to join Stu (Ed Helms) in Thailand where he will marry his new love, Lauren, under the watchful eye of her stern and disapproving father. At the behest of Doug's wife, Stu is convinced to invite Alan, played by Zach Galifianakis, to the wedding against his better judgment. Jealous of the addition of Lauren's brother Teddy to the "wolf pack" pre-wedding festivities, Alan once again finds a way to drug his pals, and the antics get underway. Upon waking in a dirty Bangkok hotel room, the boys are again blank on the previous evening's exploits, save a few "permanent" reminders.This time, it's Teddy that is missing. It quickly becomes clear that Doug stayed at the resort with his pregnant wife. However, the group has gained the addition of Mr. Chow, the international criminal that kidnapped a Doug imposter in Vegas, and who has since befriended Alan online. Chow is about to regale the group with the story of the night's events when he suffers a reaction to cocaine and passes out...only to be presumed dead and locked in an ice machine by the remaining wolf pack members. The search for Teddy takes the boys from one side of Bangkok to the other. They discover that they were involved in burning down a bar, stealing a drug dealing monkey, kidnapping a Buddhist monk and many more abhorrent activities. Stu comes to the conclusion that there is no way he can return to the resort and marry Lauren without finding her brother, especially after some of the questionable behavior that marked his "one night in Bangkok". The fate of the pack comes down to a meeting with Paul Giamatti on the roof of a hotel, and the dependability of an effeminate master criminal. "The Hangover Part 2" has a decidedly meaner tone. Alan has become more of a self-absorbed man-child than the naive and somehow lovable lone wolf from the first installment. Phil is a bit more sympathetic this time around, but that is largely because so much of the story is focused on Stu, who, in his own words, "has a weakness for prostitutes...all kinds." So much of what we all loved about the first film came from the element of surprise. We were still getting to know the characters...we had no idea where the story was going...we loved watching this unlikely brotherhood react to unusual and often dangerous stimuli, and we could all envision the scenario potentially happening to our own friends...however, implausible. The pack's visit to Bangkok consists of almost nothing that would ever happen to anyone that any sane person might know, but perhaps that is this film's charm. It is completely ridiculous, but so wild and raunchy, that maybe plausibility doesn't really matter. If it does matter to you, don't see this film. Unless, of course, you really like drug-dealing monkeys or Bradley Cooper covered in glorious sweat and dirt. For me, those two things plus the fantastic final cameo, made "The Hangover Part 2" well worth the more disgusting and inappropriate moments."The Hangover Part 2" is SO rated "R", I am still perplexed as to how it isn't NC-17...probably because there really isn't too much violence...but beware of some serious nudity of the rather androgynous kind. You'll get my meaning once you've had your own Hangover experience. You can do that now in a theater near you. />