The Wolfpack is back!. Review on The Hangover Part II

Introduction: Hollywood produces and releases more than a dozen adult comedies every year. While the sole purpose of 90 % of these so-called riots is inducing laughs mostly from sex-related humor, not every one of them turns out to be particularly amusing. Hangover, released in 2009 was funny not only in its adult humor but also proved to be a great entertainment package thanks to a killer script. It went on to break box-office records and ended up being the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time, a record that is unsurpassed even today.

Hangover Part II, the second film in the franchise, brings together the principal cast of Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and the weird yet adorable Zach Galifianakis.

While the first part dealt with their mis-adventures in the city of Vegas when they didn't remember a thing after gulping down some drugged wine, this time they carry forward their antics to the city of Bangkok. Apparently they haven't learnt from their mistakes from the Las Vegas disaster, but why to blame the seemingly sensible two, when they have the eccentric Alan (Zach Galifianakis) for company. The latter, in the desire to have unabashed fun, makes life almost miserable for Stu (Ed Helms) who's about to get married after a couple of days.

So after a night of bonfire at the beach, where they make a toast to their soon-to-wed dear friend, they wake up in Bangkok, in a place they simply cannot recognize. What happened the previous night?

So the Tiger in the restroom gets replaced by a cigarette-smoking monkey and the stripper from Part 1 gives way to a naked Asian man in their bed! Stu hasn't lost a tooth this time but has got his face tattooed, and Alan wakes up bald! This time, the missing fellow is Stu's fiancée’s younger brother, whom they had kept for company.

Analysis: The film has its fair share of comic portions and some of them are enough to make you fall of your seats laughing, but unlike the first film, the humor isn't as situational as it could've been. Instead of coming up with its own premise, it kind of follows the basic storyline of The Hangover Part 1. The middle portions of the film, though keeping the funny quotient alive, somewhat appear dull and uninteresting. And the sequences which arrive don't come in as a genuine surprise. It’s not that tough to predict what happens next, or how the film would end, especially for those who are fans of the predecessor.

However where the film scores in is the humorous dialogues, and performances of Ed Helms and the show-stealer Zach Galifianakis. While Helms induces laughs by his sharp comic touches in sequences where he's helpless and feels miserable, Zach ends up being the highlight of The Hangover series. This actor has the extraordinary talent of making you laugh just by watching him, and his antics just bring the house down whenever he opens his mouth or twists his face. As the weirdo Alan who always manages to mess things up, he's simply remarkable. Take Zach out and you're left with an average entertainer. But this amazing performer carries the film to a different level with a knockout act. Bradley Cooper comes up with a competent performance too.

Although the film could've been a wackier, a more adventurous joyride, it still provides enough entertainment and a good amount of humorous punches to keep the smile on your face even while riding your way home. It is a nice way to spend a dull weekend. However, make sure you don't take any kids along, as it’s filled with toilet (read sexual) humor.

Final words: Give it a go... At least for Zach Galifianakis. He is a delight!