The Hangover Part 2 (2011)

Credit: Warner Bros.

The Hangover Part 2 is so identical to the first that it even uses another Danzig song during the opening credits. I’m all for more Danzig music in films! As for the sequel being the same as the original Hangover from 2009, we shouldn’t expect anything else; this isn’t Shakespeare. The Wolf Pack have assembled to attend another wedding but get so wasted that they don’t know why they’re in a trashed motel room, so they start to piece everything together. The faces are the same, just the location has changed.

Again the highlight of the movie is Alan (Zach Galifianakis) who says in the movie that he’s a “stay at home son.” It should come as a surprise to no one that I want the posters in his bedroom which were of Macho Man Randy Savage and Ravishing Rick Rude but I’ll pass on Hillbilly Jim. His observations and slow-witted remarks steal the show (like saying Doogie Howser became a "gay"), though his jealously of Stu’s soon to be brother-in-law felt forced but it was necessary to the story.

I was among the naysayers that didn’t want another movie but that’s changed and now I want more.  It’s no different than a dozen counselors showing up at Camp Crystal Lake every summer in the 1980’s only to be slaughtered by Jason Vorhees. You’d think they would take a hint just like you’d think the Wolf Pack would learn to avoid Bachelor parties. That’s why the world needs a sequel for each member of the Wolf Pack. I propose that the next misadventure begins when they all get together for Alan’s wedding. This time the missing person should be Alan’s father (Jeffrey Tambor) and they can come up with another excuse to leave Doug (Justin Bartha) at home.

The film scores 3 stars from me as it’s not an instant classic but was certainly a fun way of passing the time on an afternoon. I think Director Todd Phillips should stick to movies with this kind of humor and non-stop gags. It requires no real emotional connection or character development, unlike his misfire with last fall’s Due Date. Another slight nitpick is that they completely missed the boat by not playing the Miami Vice theme when they hopped into Chow’s boat near the end of the movie. That said, I’m ready for the next Wolf Pack adventure.

This review is dedicated to the memory of Mitch Stein.