Movie Review: The Hangover Part II

Sequels are rarely as good as the original; in the case of “The Hangover Part II,” the sequel is the original.

The movie is literally a recycling of “The Hangover” but set in Thailand instead of Las Vegas. It begins, like the original, with Phil (Bradley Cooper) calling Tracy (Sasha Barrese) to inform her that the planned wedding might not be happening. Also like the original, Stu (Ed Helms) manages to do something ridiculous to his face while in a drunken, drugged out haze. Of course, again like the original, no one can remember anything, and, like the original (notice a pattern?), someone goes missing and the movie follows Phil, Stu and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) as they attempt to find him.

However, in some ways being like the original isn’t a bad thing. Galifianakis is as hilarious as ever, providing a riotous performance as the lovable but dim-witted Alan we all fell in love with in the first film. Ken Jeong also reappears as Mr. Chow, and is actually less irritating in this film than in the last. And of course, Cooper as Phil is as ruggedly handsome as ever.

What it lacks in originality, “The Hangover Part II” makes up in entertainment value. It takes us on a wild, bumpy ride across Bangkok, and the audience is able to laugh the whole way through. Although the movie relies on gross-out humor too heavily at times, there are some great one-liners that balance it out.

Bottom line: “The Hangover Part II” is not as good as its predecessor, but if you’re looking for a mindless, cheap laugh, it’s worth a watch.