The Hangover Part II
Director: Todd Phillips
Year Released: 2011
Rating: 2.0
Plot re-write of the ridiculously successful first movie, exchanging Las Vegas for Thailand - in this case, it's Stu (Ed Helms) who is getting married. The first movie was considerably funnier in comparison, probably because no one expected it to ever be as popular as it was: they tried to up the proverbial 'ante' of shock moments (ladyboys!) but the element of surprise is gone, and drug-crazy Zach Galifianakis' "stay-at-home son" is less fresh this time around. The message about "proving yourself to be a man" by embracing inner demons (and demonic friends) suggests that the movie thinks "manhood" is a state of perpetual adolescence, which is either frightening or appropriate for the times (depending on your own viewpoint).
