Disappointing follow up which is essentially the same as the first film

Rating: 4/10 (13 November 2013)

When watching a sequel to a film, I seldom expect it to be better than the original film. However, on the occasions where the sequels are weaker than the originals I will usually try and acknowledge them for trying to do something different. Not only was the Hangover 2 not as good as the first film, it is exactly the same as the first film.
The plot structure is exactly the same; instead of a wedding taking place in Vegas, it takes place in Bangkok. Instead of Doug getting married, it is Stu that is getting married. Instead of Doug going missing, Teddy (Stu's soon to be wife's little brother goes missing). We also have a kidnapping sub plot and another instance of 'mistaken identity'.
In other words, there was nothing original about this film. It actually amazed me that it took 2 years for the writer's to come up with a sequel when it surely can't have taken more than 5 minutes to write the script. This really does have to be the laziest sequel I think I've ever seen.
I must admit I did laugh a few times, but nowhere near as often as I did in the first film. I think that the problem is that it is too similar to the first film; you knew that they would find Teddy and that he would be OK. Predictably, Stu does a complete U-Turn from being a passive pushover at the start of the film to being assertive and not taking any crap at the end of the film just as he did in the first film.
This film could have been great, if only the writer's had been brave and tried to come up with a sequel with a bit more originality.