The Hangover Part II --> The Hangover Minus Everything That's Good About It.

Rating: Null/10 (7 October 2013)

Applying the same formula that made its predecessor one of the finest comedies of its year, The Hangover Part II is the follow-up chapter to The Hangover that brings nothing new to the table, is an absolutely uninspired sequel that tries too hard to amuse its audience, and fails at everything the original managed to get right in the first place.
Set two years after the events of the first film, the story of The Hangover Part II follows Phil, Stu, Alan & Doug as this time they arrive in Thailand for Stu's wedding. In order to avoid the escapades of Las Vegas during their last bachelor party, Stu decides to play it safe by opting for a pre-wedding brunch but once again, things soon head in the unexpected direction.
Co-written & directed by Todd Phillips, The Hangover Part II completely lacks the freshness, originality & quality the first film had and even the use of humour is disappointing this time. The screenplay is a letdown too for the writers have simply taken the basic plot of the first film, set it at a new location & filled it up with whatever gags they could come up with without ever trying.
The technical aspects share much similarity with the first chapter yet doesn't resonate the same vibe as before. Camera-work is bit more gritty than last time, Editing fails to get rid of many moments the final print could've done without, and the soundtrack isn't impressive at all. Even the performance by its reprising cast is inferior in comparison to their input in the previous chapter while the new additions are simply dull.
On an overall scale, The Hangover Part II is a lazy, lethargic & lacklustre sequel to The Hangover that never really clicks at any given moment, and is nothing more than the same old stuff being sold in a new package. Every element that worked so well in the first film, whether it's the expert use of wit or creative energy or the seamless interplay between its characters, is sorely missing here and if you have seen the original, then you can certainly skip this one unless you are determined to find out what regret feels like!