Review: The Hangover: Part III

Review: The Hangover: Part III

Director: Todd Phillips

Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, John Goodman

Running time: 100 Minutes.

Stu, Phil, Alan and (to a lesser extent) Doug are back for more supposed mayhem in The Hangover: Part III, which brings the comedy franchise full circle as the gang head back to Las Vegas.

We didn't need this movie. At all. The Hangover: Part II was critically mauled by fans and journalists alike for being a carbon copy of its predecessor, however looking back it would have been perfectly fine to leave the Wolf Pack's adventures there and then. Creator/director Todd Phillips seems to have lost the motivation to develop his characters and his storytelling - but he must have figured a trilogy seemed better than a duology.

With that in mind, we've been handed the grand finale, the Return of the Jedi of the Hangover series. So is it any good or should it have been last orders a long time ago?

Well, it's okay for a cheap laugh. Whereas the first Hangover movie was a surprise hit garnering a huge cult following (and making a star of Bradley Cooper), this franchise has lost all of its originality and wit. Part III doesn't feel like a Hangover movie - at times it doesn't even feel like a comedy. It's more like a half-arsed action movie with the occasional laugh thrown in; it's humorous but bleak, cheeky but dark.

Yet perhaps the most interesting thing about Part III is its sheer determination to be different from its predecessors. It's as though Phillips laughed at the reviews for Part II and said "Okay, you want something different? How about something that's nothing like Parts I and II?" While it would be justified for him to do this, he completely overdoes it (much like Ken Jeong's performance as Leslie Chow), leaving behind something that barely resembles a Hangover movie.

The gang are all back though as, after the death of Alan's father, the Wolf Pack decide that it's time for the 40 year old man-child to finally grow up. However on the way to his new therapy, they're pulled over by Marshall (a welcome extended cameo from John Goodman), a dangerous gangster who kidnaps Doug and forces the Wolf Pack to find Mr. Chow lest they wish their comrade to be shot. The guys have to find Chow and attempt to take back the gold he stole from Marshall - a trail which leads them back to Las Vegas where it all began.

Zach Galifiankis does the hairy man-child routine better than anyone else, but in this third outing it's really starting to get stale. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms are shunned to the sidelines as Phil and Stu in what is essentially Alan's story; he's off his meds and his family want him to become a contributing member of society. While this does give the story its main drive, it's sad that the brilliant talents of Cooper and Helms are wasted so much. The film probably could have done without them, and it doesn't help that Community's Ken Jeong gives the most irritating, overbearing performance of the lot.

Despite covering more ground than the first two films - Mexico, Thailand and Las Vegas all get a visit - Part III occasionally feels more like an indie flick when compared to the originals. Sometimes it regains a little charm for the small interactions between the three heroes ("I can't be your hero anymore, Phil") and there's also an amusing cameo for Melissa McCarthy (of Bridesmaids fame), but when the film returns to loud, brash shouting it immediately loses it.

That's not to say it isn't funny at all; there are some laugh out loud moments between the bickering trio, and stick around for that end credits scene which harks back with some sentimentality to Part I. Where the film is strongest is in its main cast, and luckily they do deliver where it counts. It's just a shame that the script can't seem to find its identity despite having two previous movies to both lift and learn from. 

Summary

Tonally a complete departure for the Hangover franchise, The Hangover: Part III is both bravely different and disappointing in equal measure. The few laughs are only provided from its central cast, and the majority of the feature feels more like a cross-country heist movie rather than an out-and-out comedy. Some scenes feel shoehorned in just to be completely over the top, while not enough screen time is given to the great talents that are Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper. Slightly more original than Part II but failing to recapture the effective hilarity of Part I, The Hangover: Part III is a sadly muddled send off for the once brilliant Wolf Pack.

4/10 - Disappointing

See it if you liked: Eurotrip (2004), The Hangover (2009),  Bullet To The Head (2013)