The Hangover Part III - More of The Same

Total Film

**1/2 - Wait for DVD

There isn't a lot to say about THE HANGOVER PART III.  If you liked the first two, you'll like this one.  If you didn't think the first two were all that funny, you'll think the same thing here. 

If you thought Adam (Zach Galifianakis) was a delusional, self-involved prick in the first two, you'll still think that here (the early scenes where he causes two deaths will reconfirm this).  If you find that character quirky and funny, you will again here.

If you think Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms can do so much better than this, you'll find yourself imagining that they are thinking the same thing throughout this film.  They have both moved on to major stardom and appear to be as engaged with this plot as two actors running out the life of a contract.  Even Galifianakis seems bored at times.  Some times he seems in character; some times he just stands around.  He lacks the frenetic, ad libbing energy of the first two.

The movie is not without its moments.  John Goodman makes a fine villain.  Chow (Ken Jeong) livens things up every time he appears.  The scene where they have to break into a home is funny.  Same for when the guys have to break into Caesar's Palace.  I'm finding the BRIDESMAIDS persona Melissa McCarthy now plays in all her comedies (I like her when she plays other types) is best served in small doses (the trailer of THE HEAT before the movie confirms this for me) and the dosage is just about right here. 

The scenes in Vegas had their moments though when I found myself paying more attention to what hotels were in the background than what was happening in the foreground, I realized how little involved I was with the film.

If you're thinking if I were any character in this movie I would be Stu (Ed Helms), you'd be wrong.  I would be Chow.  OK, OK, just yanking your chain.  These kinds of movies bring out the Stu in me, especially when I start asking myself why the characters are doing what they're doing.  Or why the characters themselves never start asking these questions.

The movie does manage to come full circle in the end.  The characters grow up and move on into adulthood - just like the actors themselves are now ready to move on from THE HANGOVER to better things.  Director Todd Phillips manages to bring the whole thing to a satisfying conclusion for its fans. 

But throughout most of the film, I couldn't help thinking.......I haven't heard so little laughter in a movie theater since GHOSTBUSTERS 2 (1989). 

Definitely stay when the end credits roll.  The best scene happens then.  I wish the rest of the movie had been played at that level.