As good if not a hair better than the original...color me surprised!

Rating: Null/10 (23 October 2011)

After The Hangover which was a wicked good time I knew they would make a sequel, I mean it was a HUGE success. But I figured there was no way they could do all that again. Well I was wrong...I eat my words...they do it all again and it is fantastic fun!! The guilty pleasure returns and is just as outrageous. The key to The Hangover II is that they use the same premise almost step by step and they stick to the 'if it ain't broke'...idea. Whereas some will complain that its just the same thing all over again...it isn't! Yes it is the same premise but the new locale, return characters, and a whole new wild experience makes this hilarious!! As I stated it is easily as good, if not just a little bit better, than the original. The original was so successful because the cast had so much incredible chemistry and this works once again because of that. The three guys, plus some of the original supporting gang, come back swinging and is absolutely hilarious. The two of them together might be two of the greatest adult comedies out there.
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis fit back into their roles like it was their real persona. Phil, Stu and Alan are fantastic and their chemistry together might be some of the best on screen. Cooper still fits into the cool smooth popular group leader role flawlessly. Helms' Stu is more neurotic and whiny than ever in all the best ways and the absurd and eccentric Galifianakis' Alan is as hilarious as ever. I think in the sequel Stu got some of the greatest lines and greatest moments but its a toss up. Justin Bartha once against takes a back seat in the story and is hardly around so he's barely a supporting character. I thought for sure that after Ken Jeong's portrayal of Mr. Chow in the first Hangover became a cult favorite and his popularity soared on the sitcom Community that they would severely over-use him in the sequel. Once again I was wrong and impressed that they used him just the right amount. His comedic style is loud and obnoxious and over the top and must be used sparingly and they do exactly that making his appearances downright funny!! Paul Giamatti joins the cast and is a terrific new villain to the story. He's actually more of a serious gangster but his tone and awkward look fits the film perfectly. Keep your eyes open for the perfect cameo by Hangover favorite Mike Tyson in the end of the film!
I said in my review of the first film I could never give the Hangover more than an 8/10 and I will say the same for the sequel. It isn't amazing film-making but it is downright hilarious, very adult, often dirty comedy. It's physical comedy, one liners, sarcasm and National Lampoon's style comedy (early National Lampoon's, like 80's when it was good and funny and gross.) Todd Phillips has spent his directorial career doing gross out/road trip type comedies (no pun intended--he directed Road Trip.) But The Hangover likely will cement his career as an epic comedy director. He manages to make over the top comedies without going over the top...he stops just on the line before its too much and then scales back and that is really a talent. Adam Sandler, and every SNL alumni out there who makes films could learn something from him. The Hangover II is more than a worthy sequel, the two films together are just absolutely hilarious and I hope and pray that they can come back and do it again but it is inevitable that eventually they will stumble and go too far or not find enough new material but until then adults everywhere who loved comedy should watch this sequel!! 8/10