Movie review: The Hangover Part III

The mega-popular comedy franchise The Hangover is, well, permanently hungover.

MOVIE REVIEW: The mega-popular comedy franchise The Hangover is permanently hungover.

Drunk on the blockbuster success of the first instalment in 2009, the team re-convened for Part II in Thailand a few years later.

There was just one problem. Someone forgot to pack the truly funny stuff.

Now comes The Hangover: Part III, a reputed trilogy-closing effort that sees the celebrated Wolfpack back on their home turf.

The film assembles a modest collection of laugh-out-loud moments. However, once again, the high standard of lowbrow laughs achieved by the first Hangover just cannot be matched.

More than ever before, this instalment is powered primarily by the franchise's two breakout characters, the bearded weirdo Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and the mercurial gangster Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong).

As the story begins, Alan is off his meds and on his way to a psych facility, after an intervention conducted by fellow Wolfpackers Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms).

However, the group never make it to their intended destination, and soon find themselves in Mexico where big trouble awaits.

Of course, Mr. Chow is the cause of much of the turmoil, escaping from a prison in Bangkok and then making off with the gold reserves of a powerful crime lord.

So unless Alan, Stu and Phil locate Chow and retrieve the missing gold, that other guy they always hang around with (Doug, played by Justin Bartha) will be executed.

The wonky plot should be warning enough that the franchise's A-game is long gone, and will not returning. Missing gold? What is this? A Pirates of the Caribbean movie?

Somewhat predictably, all storytelling roads navigated by The Hangover Part III are destined to intersect once more in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, there will be no Mike Tyson, a wild tiger on the loose or a baby in danger to save proceedings from retreating deep inside the average zone.

For unknown reasons, the film feels the need to occasionally down tools, and play the nice-to-see-you-again card to needless effect.

Do we really have to know how Heather Graham's retired-stripper character is doing these days? Or her kid? What about Black Doug the drugs dealer? How about some fresh jokes instead?

Even the supposedly outrageous and provocative scenes feel all too comfortable (or is that lazy?) in their desire to offend.

Mr. Chow's elliptical way of expressing himself - both verbally and physically - is a novelty that has now worn off. An all-new recurring gag about the maltreatment (and worse) of animals is a novelty that will never catch on.

Anyone who expected the series to end with a bang will be disappointed by the wispy whimper coming their way.

Only those happy enough to settle for more of the same - minus the free-wheeling unpredictability and absurdity that once defined the Hangover universe - will stagger away vaguely satisfied.

The Hangover: Part III [MA15+]
Director: Todd Phillips (The Hangover)
Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha.
Rating: 2/5

"Will leave you with a sore head and a sorry feeling"