Unmemorable and unfunny

Rating: 2/10 (29 May 2011)

I loved the first Hangover. It was just so fresh and funny and irreverent...and so unexpected! The second one attempts to ride on the success of its predecessor...and it just does not work. Comparisons are odious, I know, but the filmmakers have INVITED comparison by making the second movie an exact copy of the first one, albeit set in an "exotic" location.
What was funny in the first movie just seems plodding and labored in the second one. Case in point - Alan (played by Zach Galif...whatever). The first time around, he was sweet and clueless. Now, he's just unpleasant, yet just as clueless. The other characters don't even merit a mention - they are just so lacking in personality, it's hard to believe that we laughed at their antics last time around.
And yes, there is a monkey...I do hope he/ she/ it got paid handsomely. Nothing is going to compensate for the fact that the monkey has to perform an unmentionable act on a certain body part at the beginning of the movie.
The first part (yes, the comparisons are inevitable) at least had an element of suspense...as in "what the hell happened?". Now you just don't give a hang.