The Hangover Part 3

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUUvJ3jGC4Y

It's easy to accuse the Hangover series of selling out. The fact it's become a series at all has Hollywood making easy money written all over it. It was hard to imagine how they could even make a sequel to The Hangover with it being a standalone story about...well a hangover. The answer was just do the same again but in Thailand. So what can part 3 possibly bring to the series? Another hangover in another part of the world? Thankfully not

There is no hangover in The Hangover Part 3. The film focuses on the same old gang trying to find Mr.Chow or else Fred Flintstone [John Goodman] will kill Doug, the guy who's never really part of the films but is still part of the group. I feel a bit sorry for the actor who plays Doug to be honest. He doesn't get any funny lines or get involved in any of the craziness. His character is just kind of there either kidnapped or passed out while everything happens.

The Hangover Part 3 is funny but not completely hilarious. The film goes for it's biggest laughs from Zach Galifianakis being a bit of an obnoxious man-child and while I did laugh a few times at scenes focusing on him I thought Ed Helms's character was by far the funniest person in the film. The over the top reactions and gagging when he saw something disgusting made me laugh out loud every time.

That leaves Bradley Cooper who is there to kind of just move the story on. I felt that he had the least character of everyone in the film [other than backseat Doug] and he doesn't have many stand out scenes. When you compare this performance to saaaay his character in Silver Linings or Place Beyond The Pines it's almost like this is just a paycheck for him. It's not really his fault but I'm just aware that he's far more established now so it's unusual  to see him fade into the background next to the OTT comedy performances of his co-stars.

The film also feels a lot less zany than the ones before it. They still get into weird and wonderful situations but they feel less set up this time. What surprised me was when the film threw a half serious action scene or tense stand off into the mix. There are times when the laughter seems to stop completely as you get caught up in the actual story which is unexpected. Zach Galifianakis whimpers and makes noises throughout for comic effect but you're so used to them by this point you forget he's even there.

I recommend staying until after the first few credits because possibly the funniest bit of the whole film happens after them. It's good to see them almost poking fun at themselves for taking it all the way to part 3 and is a frightening glimpse into what the film could have been like if they had stuck to the original formula.

The Hangover Part 3 is a good time. They have made an effort to freshen things up a bit and although it will never live up to the original which should have really been as far as the Hangover went, it's got enough laughs and half decent story to warrant it's existence. If the Hangover series was a Ben and Jerrys core sundae Part 3 would be the white chocolate polar bears on top. Not entirely necessary but a nice little addition nonetheless.

7/10

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