Hangover III

Writer/Director Todd Philips, along with co-Writers Craig Mazin, Scott Moore and Jon Lucas, has moved to the dark side with Hangover III, the last episode of the Hangover trilogy, but there are still enough laughs to make it enjoyable for the fan base.

 

 

An intervention is held for the incorrigible Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and the rest of the Wolfpack…Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha)…are taking him to a convalescent home, when they are run off the road by Marshall (John Goodman) and his gang.  Marshall has had $21 million in stolen gold stolen from him by Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) and demands they find Chow and get it back or he will kill Doug, who he keeps as hostage.

 As in the original Hangover and Hangover II, there are over-the-top and outrageous incidents, but, this time, some are too absurd even in this context and, what’s worse, too mean-spirited to be funny.  Mr. Chow loses his wacky charm and his eventual breakup with Alan has no poignancy.

 

Alan’s own dive into the pathetic is only saved by his newfound relationship with pawnbroker Cassie (Melissa McCarthy), but even that is not able to elicit more than a who-cares “duh” from both the audience and the rest of the Wolfpack, when he wants to resign from the group. 

Still, for what does succeed, including the scene during the end-credits, I give Hangover III a 3+ for the fan base and a 3 for those who are just coming into the franchise.