Movie Review: The Hangover Part II (2011)

The Hangover Part II offers another dose of debauched misadventures from the "wolf pack" of comedians sure to please those hungering for more after the original film. A familiar blend of severity and silliness returns to keep the proceedings entertaining, if not a little too serious. Personal injuries and drug-fueled antics don't exactly lose their edge after a few one-liners attempt to obscure their gravity and all of Zach Galifianakis' scatterbrained outbursts can't counteract the repulsiveness of the film's cruder moments. If The Hangover Part II's primary mission was to top its predecessor in shock value, it succeeded. We're not sure if that's a compliment or not.

On the eve of Stu's (Ed Helms) wedding in Thailand, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) convince the normally mild-mannered dentist to join them for one last drink on the beach. When the group of friends awaken the next morning in Bangkok with no memory of the previous night's transgressions and discover that the bride's younger brother Teddy (Mason Lee) is now missing, they must once again retrace their footsteps to locate the vanished youth and return Stu in time for his wedding. But when their exploration leads them to vengeful gangsters, cigarette-smoking monkeys, and the return of an old criminal kingpin, remembering their drunken mishaps will be the first thing they'll want to forget.

Although it's touted as a sequel and dubbed "Part II," this follow-up to the hugely successful previous comedy is almost more of a remake. The similarities between the two are abundant, starting with an identical cast, the very same story, a matching tone, equal servings of bawdiness and mayhem, familiar male exposure (what happened to the days of gratuitous female nudity?), a loudly intrusive soundtrack, and all sorts of bodily fluids. The trio's reaction to unexpected events, panicky situations, mysterious acquaintances, contraband, drugs and unnaturally forgiving wives remains on par with the original as well. If the formula works and fans are itching for more, stick with it, the filmmakers clearly note.

"I can't believe this is happening again!" screams Stu in a grimy Bangkok alley. The Hangover Part II brings spontaneity to new heights, despite its recycled plot, especially with its interest in severe dilemmas. Lighthearted humor is reserved almost entirely for Zach Galifianakis, who once again steals the show with his wildly eccentric, disturbingly idiosyncratic, stay-at-home son personality and disregard for safety, propriety and poise. The rest is a blend of darkly comical misadventures ranging from disquieting to shocking to downright abhorrent. At every turn the trio is assaulted with violence, questionable pharmaceuticals, threats, filth, sexual deviance and visual nastiness, making the experience a rarer form of comedy, a successful box office venture (based on the first film's $44 million opening), and even a critical winner (landing the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy). Too bad this sequel is likely to be panned for the rather ignorant approach to Thailand, a racial error Sex and the City 2 couldn't escape.

- The Massie Twins (http://GoneWithTheTwins.com)

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Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Kung Fu Panda 2 capitalizes on the same techniques that made its predecessor successful: a goofy lead character struggling desperately to fit in; comical character designs and playful animation; and an all-star cast of voice actors with such recognizable articulation that they breach the visual barrier of their 3D alter egos. Although the first film defined the characters, their relationships, destinies and the setting of ancient Asia, this second outing has the opportunity to utilize each role purely for action, adventure, comic relief and even a bit of pathos. Just when the sappiness ramps up to the point of unbearable, the script has enough sense to thwart eye-rolls (or tears if the manipulation worked) with sharply contrasting humor.

Po (Jack Black) the overweight panda has been proclaimed the almighty "Dragon Warrior," and oversees the safety of China with his band of capable sidekicks, the Furious Five: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross) and Viper (Lucy Liu). As he speaks with his patient master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) about finding inner peace, a gang of wolf bandits pillages a nearby city in search of metal objects, forcing Po to depart for a hasty rescue. As he will soon discover, the banished peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) has forged fire-breathing, metal-spitting cannons to wipe out all who stand in his path to world domination.

It's debatable whether or not the story has grown more entertaining, especially considering the plot is little more than a generic kung fu tale of good vs. evil, like the kind found in just about every live-action martial arts film in the last several decades. While the main conflict is a relentless overlord with an obedient army and destructive weaponry, the underlying discordance is Po's hazy recollection of the past and the desire to know who he is, how he ended up the son of a goose, and what happened to his real parents. Is Po in need of confidence or the drive of revenge? Are his actions provoked by inner peace, as the movie insists on preaching, or by the powerful force that is adrenaline-pumping payback?

Perhaps he's simply trying to succeed at being "hardcore" so that he can measure up to his companions. And if that's the case, it's a shame that so much of his time is spent annoyingly foiling reconnaissance, ambush and rescue missions with his numbing defiance and cack-handed clumsiness. It's funny at times to see how pathetic he is compared to his generally no-nonsense warrior counterparts, but equal parts infuriating that he doesn't have to learn the hard way that there are consequences for his reckless actions. This leads to the invincibility exhibited by all parties, which reduces the urgency and seriousness of every predicament. Po is immune to injuries and haphazardly shields himself from harm with an accidental frying pan, a lucky misstep, or a loose floor plank that swings up (like stepping on a rake) to block an onslaught of throwing knives. Crane similarly avoids danger with spastic flight, and Tigress has no excuses at all - she suffers only singed whiskers after taking a cannonball to the face. Gravity and physics also seem to utterly evade the heroes, playing no part in their unlikely escapes - although it does make the creatively complex chase sequences more intense and spontaneous.

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