It all ends
Back in 2009, director Todd Philips gave life to a franchise that would amass over $1 billion worldwide and become a comedic hit. ‘The Hangover’ became a critical and commercial success accumulating over $450 million worldwide and garnered several accolades including a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and named Top 10 Films of the Year by the American Film Institute. Then came 2011 and Phillips sought to cash in on the success of the original with ‘The Hangover Part II.’ While the sequel became a financial success becoming the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time; it failed with reception and was heavily criticized for following the exact formula of its predecessor. Now, it’s 2013 and Phillips has delivered the concluding chapter of his comedic trilogy with ‘The Hangover Part III,’ but what everyone is speculating on is whether or not the second sequel will deviate from the previous installments. The wolf pack: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis & Justin Bartha all return along with Heather Graham, Melissa McCarthy, Mike Epps, John Goodman and Ken Jeong.
‘The Hangover Part III’ takes a direction that alienates fans of the first and gives critics of the second a strong snub. The latest and final installment in the trilogy takes a hard left towards dark and gritty and within the first 15 minutes has the audience questioning if they are in the right theater. From prison riots and animal decapitation to heart attacks and interventions, ‘The Hangover Part III’ strays away from its buffoonery and really puts the ‘wolf pack’ through the ringer. After Alan’s continuous mistakes, his father dies of a heart attack which puts into motion an intervention that would send Alan along with Stu, Phil and Doug to a rehab facility. Before the pack reaches their destination they are attacked by Marshall (Goodman) who demands they deliver Mr. Chow to him and takes Doug as collateral until they do so.
The problem with ‘The Hangover’ trilogy is that it’s a trilogy. The first installment, if left alone, would have been a strong standalone film that left its mark on the comedy genre. Unfortunately, Hollywood never says quit and cashes in on what made them successful until it’s dried out. Phillips and Co. found themselves in a predicament with the sequel when its plot was a copy and paste from the original. Then there comes ‘Part III’ which tries to please the fans and critics at the same time and instead falters in its objective. Credit is due to Melissa McCarthy whose appearance is brief but on point as all her roles are. Ken Jeong continues to push the boundaries and his comedic relief during troubling situations create that nostalgia of the original.
Diverging from the “wake up” predicament that started off the first two was a smart choice, however, the comedy was lost and instead uncomfortable tense moments pursued. There is something to be said about a scene after the credits where director Todd Phillips gives his proverbial middle finger to everyone who criticized his replication of plot angles.
While not a complete disaster, ‘The Hangover III’ falls into the same situation that its predecessor did, a shadow in comparison to the original.
Ben Lester (bjams11)
