The Hangover Part III Takes the Franchise Down in Flames
The one good thing about The Hangover Part III, is that its writer/director Todd Phillips actually tries to do something fresh with the story. Unlike The Hangover: Part II, he doesn’t recycle the exact same formula and set The Wolf Pack’s shenanigans in a new debaucherous location. Phillips attempts a more sentimental comedy to wrap up the trilogy.
The Hangover Part III opens with a Shawshank Redemption prisonbreak by the Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) and an accident caused by Alan (Zach Galifianakis) that triggers the death of his dad Sid (Jeffrey Tambor). Losing Sid, turns Alan into a bigger drug addled wreck, which is why The Wolf Pack intervenes by offering to escort him to rehab. Alan reluctantly agrees and leaves with Doug (Justin Bartha), Stu (Ed Helms), and Phil (Bradley Cooper), but as you might guess, it’s not long before their plan goes awry.
Along the way, their van is hijacked and Doug is kidnapped (again), this time by a drug dealer named Marshall (John Goodman) who has a score to settle with Chow. In exchange for Doug, Marshall tasks The Wolfpack with capturing Chow, an assignment that’s easier in theory than in practice. Ensnaring the wiley rogue will force them back to a place they swore they’d never go again (hint: it’s not Bangkok).
A major deviation from the other Hangover films, is that Part III doesn’t rely on morning-after headaches and regrets to drive its narrative. Instead of retracing steps through hazy memories, The Wolfpack is on a mission where Alan might learn how to be more of an adult. Unfortunately, Phillips devotes greater energy to chasing Chow than to Alan’s personal evolution. As a result, the movie occupies a tedious middle ground between an adventure comedy and a self-improvement comedy. Plus, this thinly developed portion about Alan’s growth seems like a weak ploy to wrap everything up neatly, a trick almost as tenuous as its half-hearted endeavor to connect Part III’s events to those from the original Hangover.
While it’s nice that The Hangover Part III tries to explore different territory with its plot, sadly, this movie is not very funny at all. The primary reason is that it gives way too much leeway to Chow and Alan. Normally the two are great in small doses, however their personalities aren’t endearing enough to lead a film. Chow’s insane behavior becomes rote and Alan’s delusions of grandeur grow obnoxious. Although there is something hilarious about Part III: Alan and Chow’s prominence parallels a poster for the movie (above), featuring them head-to-head while Vegas is aflame in the background. Melodramatic implications aside, this poster is humorous because it unwittingly foretold Alan and Chow’s part in causing the franchise to go down in flames.
Like us, Alan’s buds clearly aren’t enjoying themselves either. Ed Helms constantly looks like he’s going to cry, perhaps because Alan is laying into Stu the entire time for no reason. Bradley Cooper on the other hand, seems like he’s completely bored and over the entire thing. To add further insult to injury, the supporting cast is also criminally underutilized. Talented comedians like Goodman and Melissa McCarthy are squandered with small parts that don’t allow room for their big personalities to shine.
To tie everything together, Philips closes The Hangover Part III with a montage from all three films. It’s supposed to make you feel nostalgic because you’ve been following The Wolfpack for so long. However you’re likely to feel the opposite, just like me: bored, ambivalent about the characters, and happy that the series is finally over.
I had already checked out with Part II. No desire to even see this.
I would have gladly traded Part II for III. The second one may have copied the first one, but at least it was still funny and trying to push the comedic envelope in attempts to one-up the first one. You’re best skipping it Mark. Thanks for reading!
Good review Evan. It had all of the promise to go out with a bang, but instead, went out with a whimper that makes us happy and glad that this franchise is finally over with. Sad to say too, because I actually really loved the first movie and mildly enjoyed the second.
Thanks Dan! I was sad too. The first one was amazing and the second film was still funny, but this one was just pathetic. Thank God it’s over. Hopefully we’re safe from The Hangover: Part IV.
Thanks for the in depth review! I was fairly certain it was going to be even worse than part 2 but I am certain of it now. Why do they always ruin great movies by trying to make a sequel or part 2 etc? I cant think of any movies off the top of my head that had a better sequel…but I am sure there has to be some…?
Thanks for reading Kristin! I would say most often that good movies are ruined with bad sequels because the studio and or director are just trying to make quick easy cash. I wish that more effort, thought, and quality control went into them. There are plenty of great franchises though where second movie is better than the first. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, Aliens, Terminator 2, and The Dark Knight are just a few that come to mind.
What a shame. I’ve enjoyed the first two and sort of expected the same thing again. I supposed I’ll watch it with my expectations a little down. That said, I’ll wait for it to appear on home video or TV…not rushing to the cinema for it.
It is a shame. I had high expectations for the second one, which were dashed after I saw it. Before this one though, my hopes made a rebound because I knew they would be trying something new with the story. It’s too bad that the humor just wasn’t there. Thanks for reading Dan!
Hangover 3, enough said. How many times can you go to the same well before its dry. Hollywood used to have some pride in the movies not now it all about the DVD’s , the gear,etc. Shame on Cooper for even agreeing to be in this movie. Have some pride man!