The Hangover Part II (2011) * 1/2

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifiankis, Ken Jeong, Justin Bartha


Other than the fact that 2009's The Hangover was a surprise smash, I can think of no other reason to have this sequel. The Hangover was a raunchy comedy that had a pretty decent amount of laughs and a plot which I actually found myself caring about.  It was a self-contained piece that really didn't require a sequel because there was no more real story to be told.  The sequel is just a retread of the original, with the action moved to Thailand instead of Vegas and contains zero laughs.  There are some interchangeable parts, but the ideas are the same, only much less effective this time around.

I was surprised by the lack of energy Part II exuded. I'd have to think it's because the actors and crew sensed deja vu and figured that if the script went by rote, then why not us?  Perhaps because the Thailand of this movie is significantly less scenic than Vegas. Or perhaps because the plot is one that just can't really be cared about.    The first Hangover worked because it was interesting to watch the befuddled guys try and piece together what happened to them with very few clues to go on.   It was fun to watch the misunderstandings and calamities unfold.   In Part II, the same unfolding of surprises just meant that I would have to sit in the seat a little while longer while the crew looks for an ultimately minor character.     I had a lot less caring in me this time around.  

I got pretty much what I expected out of Hangover Part II, except laughs. The film contains zero laughs, even in the gross-out scenes and even in the scenes in which Zach Galifianakis tries to behave even weirder than in the first Hangover.   Call me humorless and call me whatever you like, but don't call me if there's a Hangover III.

Little Fockers (2010) * *

Directed by: Paul Weitz

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand

Little Fockers is the rubber match in a trilogy that produced a not-so-good comedy and a slightly better one so far.  Despite virtually everyone I know disagreeing with me, I found Meet The Parents to be a one-joke comedy with the one joke told over and over in different ways. Meet The Fockers was more successful because the Fockers were crazy but lovable and gave Robert DeNiro someone else to play off of.   It was better, not necessarily great.  

Now, we have Little Fockers, which really isn't about the grandchildren at all, but just one more attempt to stuff ninety minutes of gross-out humor, erections gone awry, and of course myriad misunderstandings into an ungainly package.  It has one or two chuckles, but slinks away almost undetected and unremembered by the brain.    Most of the cast appears to be phoning it in, and some do it literally.    I think enough comic juice has been squeezed from the franchise.  

I sincerely doubt we'll see a fourth installment, even though the film does try to hint at one. Making a fourth Fockers film would be like the party guest who just won't leave even though the host is shutting off the lights to go to bed.