The Hangover Part 3
Review by Sean Lynch
The Hangover, it's the trilogy no one ever never knew they actually wanted. After surprising everyone in 2009 with a $500M global haul, this low budget, drugged out adventure franchise has become the template by which every other comedy is compared.
The problem with that is, its own sequels are compared to it to0 - and therein lies the problem.
The Hangover Part III is, by and large, a direct reaction to the critical beating Part II received. Whereas director Todd Phillips stuck to an almost identical template for the first sequel (just replacing Vegas with Thailand) this third (and supposed "final") film in the Wolfpack franchise throws out everything you know about The Hangover... and in the process... deprives the audience of the very thing they forked out $23 to see in the first place.
This time around, there's no wedding. There's no bachelor party. This time the Wolfpack hits the road to take Alan to rehab. However, along the way they are kidnapped by a Vegas drug lord who has tracked them down in order to locate another of their old chums... Mr Chow (Ken Jeong).
As usual, Doug (Hollywood's unluckiest "leading man", Justin Bertha) is taken out of the equation early and from there we're given less of a movie about a Hangover, and more of a straight lined kidnapping thriller (with the occasional weakly improvised throw away gag).
While Phillips should be commended for at least attempting something new, the inescapable problems of The Hangover Part III are glaringly obvious. First and foremost... what makes this franchise fun is that it's all based around a group of guys having fun that goes awry. However, at no point in The Hangover Part III is ANYONE having fun.
The whole impetus for this instalment comes from a place of sadness and seriousness (Alan's fathers death and the his hurtful and destructive personality effecting his family and friends), therefore "getting to hang out with your old buddies" isn't that much fun because they are all so stressed out.
Also, theres no drinking or drugs at all... so this is no longer a fun night out that's gone horribly wrong (which we can all relate to), this is a terrifying kidnapping situation which is totally out of their control (and in no way their fault).
Sure, there are a few glimpses of hope (Melissa McCarthy pops up, Bradley Cooper gets one good line in when getting a photo taken of himself climbing from the roof of Caesar's Palace) however, they are little more than glimpses as audiences are force fed scenes with Chow and Alan (break out wacky side characters whose strengths lie in being just that... funny, wacky, side characters).
Well, at least it's better than concentrating on Stu (honestly, if someone can explain to me why Ed Helms has a career, please call this toll free number 1800-Ed-Helms-Is-Terrible-But-Has-A-Career-WhatsUpWithThat).
The sense of realisation of just how average The Hangover Part III is comes just after the credits, as it hints at what Part III SHOULD HAVE been. While intended as a fun little extra joke, all it manages to do is simply remind you of what you'd been missing out on. Further more, the tag on credits scene also negates the entire ham fisted "life lesson" and "character building" story arc built around Alan seen for the preceeding 113 minutes.
Essentially, it makes The Hangover Part III the Star Wars : Clone Wars of the Hangover universe (the information found BETWEEN the more interesting adventures).
Comedy is all about structure and format - whether you realise it or not. Russell Coight works because YOU KNOW what joke is coming before he does it, Harold & Kumar works because the specific road-trip format dictates it will - and The Hangover works because YOU KNOW it starts at the end and works backwards.
By disregarding this, most basic, aspect of its own success (the use of an actual Hangover as a framing device) - The Hangover Part III loses sight of what made this franchise so great in the first place and is much poorer for it.
2.5 out of 5
The Hangover Part 3
Australian release: 23rd May, 2013
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Melissa McCarthy, Jamie Chung, John Goodman, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong
Director: Todd Phillips
