We'll Make Another One, Just For the Fun of It: "Hangover Part II" Review

Who's in it: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Jeffrey Tambor, Paul Giamatti

MPAA Rating: R for for pervasive language, strong sexual content including graphic nudity, drug use and brief violent images. 

What it's about: Exactly, no, EXACTLY the same thing the first one was about. This time around, Stu's the one getting married (and no it's not to the hooker) in Thailand, his bride-to-be's homeland.

Stu, for the sake of avoiding a repeat of the previous bachelor party fiasco, decides to have a quiet, alcohol-free bachelor brunch with the two best friends that anyone can have: Doug, the misplaced groom from the first one; and Phil, who is upset with Stu's decision, believing that the chances of a similar bachelor party predicament happening again would be astronomical. Clearly he doesn't realize he is in a sequel.

So the two non-bachelor's convince Stu to invite the quirky Alan, who's head is still living in that infamous day in Vegas (as evident by the theme of his bedroom,) along to the wedding.

"One drink won't hurt," (famous last words) says Stu, upon the gang's pleas for some sort of bro-celebration on the night before the wedding. But when they wake up in a small hotel room in the middle of Bangkok with makeovers and hangovers -- and with only one digit to trace of the bride's sixteen-year-old brother, Teddy -- they have to play another game of Law & Order if they want to find Teddy and make it back to the wedding in time safe and sound.

Bring on the nonstop, quotable Alan moments.

What I think about it: Judging by my Facebook and Twitter newsfeeds, almost every teenager saw this movie at a midnight premiere like I did.  For those of you left, here goes:

This movie. Is funny. As hell.  I was considering keeping a laugh count while in the movie theater, as in accounting for the number of giggles and full-on beside-myself laughs I had, but I didn't have a writing utensil. But if I had to guesstimate, I would say those two numbers would be an equally high amount, and that's really saying something. You are pretty much guaranteed to have some sort of good time.  

However, I do have a few tips for you: 1.) Do your best to go to a crowded theater to watch it. For me at least I find myself having a greater chance at laughing at a movie/TV show if there are more people around me watching it.  The only things (off the top of my head) I have watched alone and LOL-ed at are: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, and Superbad. 2.) Make sure you've seen the first one first. Half of the jokes will only be funny if you've seen the first one. And 3.) Embrace the F-word.

I'll Admit, I Was Worried: I was nervous that all the hype of this movie was going to turn it into a total letdown.  I've had enough experience watching movies to know that it is a rarity for a sequel to a film that wasn't intentionally going to spawn a sequel but only did due to the unexpected success and profit earned to be anything other than a complete failure (the movies Saw II through Saw VII and Highlander II come to mind.)

I am happy to report that this is a worthy sequel, as long as you can understand that it is the first one recycled and brought to Thailand.

Similarities to the First: Starts off the same, with a call from Phil about how they "fudged" up; "Wolfpack"-like speech from Alan at dinner; They lost somebody imperative to the wedding! Quick check the roof!; Replace lion in bathroom with smoking monkey in ceiling; Chow's back; Mike Tyson; Stu's improvised song recapping the day's events; mob boss Paul Giamatti is the new Chow; Revelation about where the missing person is (which I like much better in this one than in the first one); and the closing credit pictures.  There are countless others, but I don't want to spoil anything.

A Few Things That Bothered Me (But Only Slightly): Chow. There were many moments I just wanted to leap out and smack him in the face. He was not as funny in this one as he was in the first. He was almost too annoying at times.  Too much Chow is not good for you.

Also, Alan was three times as much "Alan" as the Alan in the first movie.  The Alan from the first movie was just the right amount of "Alan" for a great comedic character.  This movie's Alan was a little too much.  But like I said, its not like it ruined my experience.

About the Kids: If you even entertained the thought of bringing your children with you, you should slap yourself right now and phone child services.  This movie has got male genitalia out the wazoo and it also drops the F-bomb like a bar of soap.

Overall Grade: B