While the
original Hangover blew audiences away
back in 2009, its 2011 follow-up was widely reviled for telling the exact same
story after changing out a few characters and settings. Following such a lackluster second chapter,
there was a collective eye rolling when it was first announced that Warner
Bros. would be bringing back “The Wolfpack” for the final installment of a
“trilogy.” It was definitely going to be
a tough sell considering that Part III
was the sequel that nobody asked for, and early promotions reeked of money-grabbing
desperation…the Deathly Hallows
rip-off teaser poster was as arrogant as it was nonsensical. If there was any silver lining, it involved
the decision to return the setting to Vegas, and thankfully, the final trailers
guaranteed a new storyline. Still, in
relation to all the sequels dropping soon, The
Hangover Part III was undeniably at the bottom of my list, so really, what
more could Todd Phillips do to disappoint my already rock-bottom expectations?
This
concluding chapter tried to tell a different story than its predecessors, but
my god, The Hangover Part III departs
so heavily from franchise formula that all we are left with is a mean-spirited
tale of nonsense trying to cram tired characters farther down the public’s
throats. When Zach Galifianakis and Ken
Jeong were first introduced, they were surprisingly original, but this chapter
relies so heavily on these personalities without script support that we are
left with the cinematic equivalent of beating a single joke to death. The few laugh-out-loud moments relied heavily
on shock-value, making Part III so
shockingly unfunny that it seems almost unfair to classify the film as a
comedy. In fact, the sole appeal lies in
watching the cast of celebrities appear onscreen together, albeit without
genuine inspiration and with some failed attempts at novelty …Heather Graham’s
return was lackluster and Melissa McCarthy’s inclusion felt forced. In
retrospect, Part III may have been
better suited as a direct sequel to the original Hangover without 2011’s detour to Bangkok, but as is stands,
audiences are left with a perfect example with the type of film that should
never have been made in the first place.
Overall
Recommendation: Very Low
