The Film
The first Hangover movie was apparently so nice, they decided to do it twice. However, instead of Doug's (Justin Bartha) pending nuptials, it's Stu (Ed Helms) getting hitched in The Hangover Part II.
Sadly, there was no happy ending for Stu and Jade (Heather Graham) from the first movie. If that had happened, we'd have no reason to take the entire gang to Thailand. It's in this true city of sin where history repeats itself. However, instead of losing Doug (who still manages to miss most of the movie), the crew can't find Teddy (Mason Lee), child protégé and Stu's soon-to-be-brother-in-law. While the Wolfpack (which also includes Bradley Cooper and Zack Galafinakis) tries to retrace its steps, they recreate a little magic as well as mayhem, which includes tales of a transvestite, a smoking monkey, and one Mike Tyson-inspired tattoo.
So The Hangover Part II follows the whole "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" formula. The end result isn't nearly as fun or funny as the original, but it's certainly good for a few winces and chuckles.
Despite lackluster reviews, The Hangover Part II raked in over $581 million at the box office. This is on top of the $467 million that they are still counting from the original. Naturally, Warner Bros. isn't going to cheap out now. This is a good-looking movie. Well, as good-looking as dirty, sweaty debauchery can look. The colors are a little on the dank side, but so is the movie. In other words, it looks exactly how you want it to look, with particularly impressive black levels. Even better, the film is bursting with detail. All of that sweat is all too real, as is the grime. Also, there's a ton of furry details on Cooper's face, Galifianakis' head, and that cute little nicotine-dependent monkey.
The Sound
Warner Bros. invites you into Club Wolfpack with a sizzling DTS-HD Master Audio track. This movie comes packing a thumping soundtrack, with tons of bass. When it's not rocking out, this track delivers a ton of atmospheric sounds from clubs and bustling street noise. It completely elevates the level of comedy audio. Rounding out the whole experience are plenty of gunshots and one killer car chase.
The Extras
For such a high-profile title, we expected this section to be a bit more populated. Instead, Warner just put a few blips in here, with an uber-quick gag real, a bit about the action, and a few behind-the-scenes shorts. The one to watch, however, is the "Unauthorized Documentary." This 26-minute featurette attracts cast, crew, and even J.J. Abrams and Morgan Spurlock to poke fun at the franchise and its raging, out-of-control cast. It's certainly different than the typical making-of short, and has its moments. Otherwise, the release also comes packing BD-Live and an UltraViolet Digital Copy.
Final Thoughts
The Wolfpack may be back, but they aren't packing the same bite in The Hangover Part II. That said, there are plenty of laughs, but they are reserved for hardcore Hangover fans only. If you didn't like the original, the sequel isn't likely to win you over. It doesn't even try. Thankfully, the Blu-ray elevates the entire experience. Despite the surprising lack of special features, the audio is a rarity for a comedy and it's got a funky, sweaty image (in a good way). In other words, you might as well just eat the marshmallow and dive right in. You don't want all of those lingering questions when Hangover III hits theaters, do you?
Product Details
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