The Hangover III

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951261/?ref_=nv_sr_1

A number after a title usually is secret Hollywood code for the level of suckiness  to be expected.  This explains the “6” in the classic flop Leonard Part 6. Now you know. Of course, there are exceptions and you should know what they are. Modern filmmakers have attempted cover their tracks by giving sequels different titles, or, as with Star Wars III, II and I, counting backwards.

For The Hangover III, well you know, it didn't suck as badly as I’d been led to believe. Actually it was a lot better than The Hangover II, but still can't touch the original.

The boys are back in town: Alan photobombs his father's funeral.

You have the same four guys from the other movies Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug, but it’s essentially The Zach Galifianakis Show as his character Alan continues his icky adventures with Mr. Chow played too well by Ken Jeong. There’s the device wherein Doug gets taken out of the action and the other gents go off on outrageous adventure to save him.  But it’s all Galifianakis all the time and that’s enough if you’re a fan. (After watching his stand-up routine dressed as Little Orphan Annie – available on Youtube – who couldn't be a fan?)

There’s lots of gross, improbably situations, including a couple that will make animal-lovers’s skin crawl. But there is also some fun with some new characters played by John Goodman and another up-and-coming comedy star and I’ll save that surprise for you. If you’re watching a movie with hilarious funeral and intervention scenes, chances are it’s part of The Hangover franchise or one of its imitators.

 

This is the kind of movie you might catch on Comedy Central late one night, but I can’t imagine it being the least bit funny once it’s edited for television.  There’s probably a little too much serious violence and a little too much fun, as usual, with Demerol injections, but I have to admit I laughed out loud several times. Zach Galifianakis is a master of uncomfortable humor and if you are too, you’ll enjoy this movie and for that I’ll give it three Wilders out of four.

  

   

This week’s Overlooked Film of Significance: Cedar Rapids, in which Ed Helms plays small town insurance salesman cast adrift in the urban nightmare that is a slightly bigger small town known as Cedar Rapids.