When The Hangover set the record for the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in history in 2009, a sequel was inevitably a foregone conclusion. Released theatrically in May of 2011, The Hangover Part II also did big business, putting it second only in box-office gross to the original film.
So if the sequel did so well, how come popular opinion suggests otherwise by those who went to see it? And what does this mean for its video market chances? Read further for a full review of the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Edition released on December 6, 2011.
Change The Setting, Recycle The Formula
The Hangover Part II finds the trio of "Wolfpack" members Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifanakis), and Stu (Ed Helms) together again in Thailand for Stu's upcoming wedding. But the boys find themselves lost in the seedy city of Bangkok after a night of memory-challenged partying once again and have lost the brother of Stu's bride-to-be in the process.
Director Todd Phillips (Due Date) returns as helmer, and the film has positives and negatives. On the plus side, as an audience we want to see the guys get into shenanigans again and a lot of what happens in Bangkok is hilarious stuff (especially revelations at a strip joint). The sequel is funny, and has several instances of the smart-alec dialogue that was prominent in the first film.
But in terms of set-up and particular scenes, the sequel pretty much follows the original film's plot points and formula almost down to the bone - complete with end credit photographs, missing people, musical Stu renditions, and a singing Mike Tyson, while only making small deviances here and there.
The setting is an expected change, but much like recycled sequels (i.e. Die Harder 2: Die Harder) the places may alter but the story remains the same. At the end of the day, it's an amusing sequel but one that unfortunately does not outdo the charm and fond rememberance of the first film. You just can't beat Vegas, baby.
The Blu-ray DVD Combo
VIDEO - In terms of picture quality, The Hangover Part II delivers an outstanding high-definition transfer. Through the bright lights, sweat pouring from characters, and tropical settings, you can almost literally feel the grime, heat, and tranquility from Thailand's various locations. Rating: 4.5/5
AUDIO - The film sports a rather impressive 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Track that plays extremely well in balance and strength around the speakers of a sound system. Songs in the film are enhanced wonderfully, diaologue is clear, and the track comes alive nicely during the more chaotic sequences. Rating: 4.5/5
EXTRAS - The Blu-ray disc of the edition comes with a few features, some good and some not so good. The Unauthorized Documentary is a little dull and self-indulgent as it playfully mocks the supposed bad behaviour behind-the-scenes on the film. But it is funny to see other filmmakers like Morgan Spurlock and J.J. Abrams in on the joke. There's also a quick Action-Mashup that might have worked under a teaser trailer banner, but not as its own feature.
There are three featurettes that do turn things around. A better behind-the-scenes bit - The Comedy Rhythm Of Todd Philips displays the director and talent ironing out the scenes on set, Not Your Everyday Monkey shines a deserved spotlight on Crystal's performance in the film, and Bangkok Tour With Chow brings its own laughs with an in-character Ken Jeong guiding you around the city. A light-hearted but not overly funny Gag Reel rounds things out. Rating: 3/5
CONSUMER/COLLECTOR VALUE - The edition comes with a second standard edition DVD disc that is also serves as a Digital Download. The Blu-ray disc is a mixed bag of excellent and average depending on the area in question. Rating: 4/5
To Buy Or Not To Buy?
The Hangover Part II isn't quite as good as the first film, but as a sequel it could have gone a lot worse than what was ultimately executed on screen. There are many worthy parts of the film that will induce laughs and continue the appeal of the series for future films, but it needs a tweak on changing-up ideas to keep it fresh for the long haul.
The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Edition is a pretty good package with strong technical features and so-so supplemental material. A little more work could have been done to both the film and the edition, but otherwise it's still fairly decent. Over-All Rating: 3.5/5
Ryan Young - Ryan Young is a Film and Sports article/review writer, based in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.
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