If you are going in thinking that the Hangover II is a rehashed plotline following all the major beats of the original then you are 100% correct. It is also very, very funny and while the plot points might be rehashed the jokes aren’t and the ante is upped in a satisfying way that will not disappoint.

It is pretty easy to be cynical about a sequel like this. It doesn’t look like there is much new going on aside from the location and it feels like a cash grab. What makes it work is the talent of everyone involved and the fact that it is legitimately very funny with characters that are fun to hang out with for a couple of hours (okay 102 minutes, shut up). On top of this, the film doesn’t shy away from the fact that this is a rehash and makes several direct references to the original and does so in a way that three dudes going through pretty much the exact same thing would. I say exact same thing but from a detail perspective it really isn’t things are so much worse for them this time out.

It is two years after the Vegas incident and Stu (Ed Helms) is getting married to Lauren (Jamie Chung) in Thailand and is taking steps to make sure no one gets roofied and no debauchery goes down by having a bachelor brunch with Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha) with  Alan (Zach Galifianakis) nowhere to be found…until Doug mentions that Alan has found out about the wedding and is deeply hurt by his lack of an invitation. Stu is eventually convinced to invite him and, after enduring one of the most insulting rehearsal dinner speeches ever from the bride’s father, finds himself waking up in a hotel room in Bangkok with Phil and Alan. His16-year old future brother-in-law is nowhere to be found. With nothing but a mute monk and a smoking monkey to go on, the three have to try to piece together how they went from drinking on the beach to being completely fucked in Bangkok. To say any more would be giving away jokes so I will leave it at that.

Like I have mentioned several times above, the framework is pretty much identical and the way that things play out will feel very familiar but if the devil is in the details then he must be sharing room with laughs because that is where the Hangover Part II is keeping them. Sure, the monkey is the tiger and the monk is the baby but when you see what actually happens with them it doesn’t matter. The jokes here are not at all retreads of the jokes from the first and they are very, very funny.

I have said it before but I really like Director Todd Phillips and his movies very rarely miss for me. Even with a rehashed plot he proves that he knows pacing and timing and delivers very strong material. The writing is just as strong as the first effort and the characters are consistent without feeling stale. To say that any of this is realistic or true to life seems laughable but as far as taking the characters and putting them in a similar situation it feels natural and as it should be. The look of the film is absolutely stunning and makes great use of the natural beauty of the location. The way it is shot feels dynamic and interesting as well.

The vulgarity and raunch factor has be upped quite a bit here. I don’t want to give away any surprises but the debauchery has been ratcheted up by quite a lot and it is hilarious. The movie never felt like they were doing it just to be more extreme but it is definitely more extreme than the events of the first film.

A lot of credit here goes to the actors as they have drawn characters that are fun to spend time with. Ed Helms is as uptight as ever and Bradley Cooper maintains Phil’s smarminess. Zach Galifianakis really shines as though as he could have done what so many other actors have done with outrageous parts and gone way over the top but Alan here is pretty much Alan of the first film with a little bit more paranoia and jealousy. It is good to see an actor with the confidence to stay with what works without over doing it to reach for laughs. Galifianakis knows what it takes to get the job done and he does that. Ken Jeong returns as Chow and is excellent again with a very strange character.

Conclusion [9.0 out of 10]

There isn’t a ton that can really be said about the movie without giving jokes and surprises away but the bottom line is that if you liked the first Hangover then you are most likely going to like the second one. It doesn’t feel quite as fresh and is a bit less surprising because of the familiar premise but there are plenty of shocking moments and there is plenty to be found in the movie that isn’t in the trailer. There are a lot of big laughs here and plenty of little ones as well. Once again Todd Phillips has made one of the best comedies of the year.