Movie Review: The Hangover Part III (2013)
Written by Anthony Sargon
When the original Hangover came out back in 2009, it was an instant smash. People fell in love with the wolfpack and their drunken antics, and propelled the movie to a $277 million box office haul in the US alone. Two years later, Part II was released and was met with much less enthusiasm. Although it still printed money, people thought it was just a lazy rehash of the original, something that Part III hopes to address. While "The Hangover Part III" has some laughs and poignant character moments, it feels a little subdued for a trilogy capper.
Alan (Zach Galifianakis) isn't doing too well. He's been off his meds for a few months, and he's turning into a major problem for his family. After an unfortunate event that involves a giraffe and a freeway takes place, Alan's family decides that the best thing for him would be to go to a mental institution and get rehabilitated. However, the only way Alan would accept to go is if Phil (Bradley Cooper) Stu (Ed Helms), and Doug (Justin Bartha) drive him there. Everything seems to be going just fine, until the boys hit the road and discover that certain things were set in motion that fateful night in Vegas, things that only they can set right if they want to live.
A big complaint about "The Hangover Part II" was that it followed the original film's template beat for beat, except that it was happening in Thailand instead of Vegas. For better or worse, Part III throws the entire formula our the door and doesn't actually involve anyone getting drunk or being hungover. While I commend director Todd Philips for being this daring, the film loses some of its appeal knowing that no one will be getting shit-faced and dealing with those consequences. The movie has laughs, but it's not really a comedy; it plays more like an action-thriller with comedic elements.
There's also a huge focus on Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) in the film, and while he's funny in doses, too much of him can end up being a detriment to the experience. I'd rather spend the bulk of the final film with the wolfpack, but the story mostly revolves around Alan and Chow, somewhat shoving Phil and Stu to the background.
As far as performances go, there aren't any real surprises. Bradley Cooper still plays a great douche, and Ed Helms has turned Stu into my favorite character in the trilogy. Zach Galifianakis is still great as Alan, and he actually shares some great moments with Melissa McCarthy who plays a pawn shop owner. Justin Bartha gets sidelined once again as Doug, essentially missing out on all the "fun". Ken Jeong is funny as Mr. Chow, but there's just too much of him. John Goodman is great as the film's main antagonist, Marshall, and brings a lot of gravitas to the role. There are also plenty of returning characters, so keep your eyes peeled for some cool throwbacks.
Anthony's Verdict:
As a person who thoroughly enjoyed "The Hangover" back in 2009 (and yes, even Part II), I'm a little disappointed that Part III feels as restrained as it does. It has laughs and some great character moments, but it somewhat feels like a missed opportunity to truly send the boys off in style. This is the wolfpack's final adventure, and I for one wish there was more alcohol involved.
Numerical Score: 7/10
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