Sobering realization party's over
By Christy Lemire |
June 2, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Daring" isn't a word you would use very much to describe 2011's "The Hangover Part II," the disappointingly lazy, beat-for-beat rehash of the wild and wildly successful original "Hangover" from 2009.
And yet, here we are with "The Hangover Part III," which runs a different sort of risk by going to darker and more dangerous places than its predecessors, both artistically and emotionally. It dares to alienate the very audience that made "The Hangover" the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time because, well, it isn't exactly a comedy.
Sure, there are some outrageous lines and sight gags, mostly courtesy of Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong, who function as central figures this time when, previously, a little bit of them went a long way. But director and co-writer Todd Phillips signals early and often that he's much more interested than ever before in exploring matters of real consequence, rather than simply mining them for brash laughs.
This time, Galifianakis' insufferable, inappropriate man-child Alan has gone off his meds and is out of control. His family and friends - including fellow "Wolfpack" members Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) - stage an intervention and offer to drive him to a treatment center in Arizona. And so the four venture off on yet another journey, assuming their familiar roles: arrogant English teacher Phil is the de facto leader, Stu is the cautious and neurotic dentist and Doug the bland voice of reason.
However, they get run off the road by masked thugs who work for crime boss Marshall (John Goodman, who improves everything merely by showing up). Turns out, some of their actions in Las Vegas four years ago have tied them to the evil, effeminate gangster Leslie Chow (Jeong) and put them in trouble with some powerful, volatile people.
Now, they must make things right by finding Chow. Their assignment takes them, inevitably, back to Vegas, only this time it isn't sparkly and full of promise, but seedy and foreboding.
Las Vegas does, however, serve as the location for some rare moments of heartfelt emotion. One comes courtesy of Melissa McCarthy, in typical scene-stealing fashion, as the pawn-shop clerk who turns out to be Alan's trashy, mulleted soul mate. The guys also revisit Stu's first wife, ex-stripper Jade (Heather Graham), and find that she's living a happy suburban life with her son Tyler, who's now four. The child actor who plays him, Grant Holmquist, was one of several infants used in the original "Hangover." It's a nice touch.
Galifianakis gets way more screen time here; he's essentially the star. The character of Alan is still odd and off-putting, unorthodox and unpredictable. But his loneliness and neediness shine through.
This isn't a party: This finally, truly is the hangover. And it's also the recovery.
And yet, here we are with "The Hangover Part III," which runs a different sort of risk by going to darker and more dangerous places than its predecessors, both artistically and emotionally. It dares to alienate the very audience that made "The Hangover" the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time because, well, it isn't exactly a comedy.
Sure, there are some outrageous lines and sight gags, mostly courtesy of Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong, who function as central figures this time when, previously, a little bit of them went a long way. But director and co-writer Todd Phillips signals early and often that he's much more interested than ever before in exploring matters of real consequence, rather than simply mining them for brash laughs.
This time, Galifianakis' insufferable, inappropriate man-child Alan has gone off his meds and is out of control. His family and friends - including fellow "Wolfpack" members Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) - stage an intervention and offer to drive him to a treatment center in Arizona. And so the four venture off on yet another journey, assuming their familiar roles: arrogant English teacher Phil is the de facto leader, Stu is the cautious and neurotic dentist and Doug the bland voice of reason.
However, they get run off the road by masked thugs who work for crime boss Marshall (John Goodman, who improves everything merely by showing up). Turns out, some of their actions in Las Vegas four years ago have tied them to the evil, effeminate gangster Leslie Chow (Jeong) and put them in trouble with some powerful, volatile people.
Now, they must make things right by finding Chow. Their assignment takes them, inevitably, back to Vegas, only this time it isn't sparkly and full of promise, but seedy and foreboding.
Las Vegas does, however, serve as the location for some rare moments of heartfelt emotion. One comes courtesy of Melissa McCarthy, in typical scene-stealing fashion, as the pawn-shop clerk who turns out to be Alan's trashy, mulleted soul mate. The guys also revisit Stu's first wife, ex-stripper Jade (Heather Graham), and find that she's living a happy suburban life with her son Tyler, who's now four. The child actor who plays him, Grant Holmquist, was one of several infants used in the original "Hangover." It's a nice touch.
Galifianakis gets way more screen time here; he's essentially the star. The character of Alan is still odd and off-putting, unorthodox and unpredictable. But his loneliness and neediness shine through.
This isn't a party: This finally, truly is the hangover. And it's also the recovery.
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