The Hangover Part III

Release Date: May 23, 2013 
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min. 
Director: Todd Phillips 
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, John Goodman, Heather Graham,  Mike Epps, Melissa McCarthy.

They've gotten inebriated in Vegas and lost in Bangkok. Shot at, drugged up, and married to a stripper. And through it all the Wolfpack has maintained (at least) half of their sanity, only to return to the beginning...and inevitable scene of the crime. In the third entry of Phillips' gratuitous trilogy, the trio is back, uniting for their last great adventure in a string of misdeeds. When Alan comes in need of an emergency intervention, it's up to the guys to escort him on a deceivingly simple road trip. But things like these are never that easy; and once again it's utter chaos and bad news for Stu. While "Part II" was disappointing and lacking any originality, "Part III" takes an unexpected detour with a darker plot line. Not so much a 'hangover' but a rescue mission, the film is relatively detached from its preinstalled formula. As consequence, the context does feel new and favorably less repetitive, but at the same time offbeat in relation to the series. Ken Jeong's Leslie Chow is front and center as the film's antagonist, who's always stirring trouble for the hapless group. In minor doses he's vexing but a comic relief, unpredictable in nature of when he'll show up. But as the central figure, he detracts from the predisposed story line, reducing the Wolfpack down to just a couple of foragers. Though there are moments where there are glimpses of past hilarity, it comes too infrequently to really leave an impression. While "Part III" brings closure to the Vegas escapades, it's not necessarily a warranted one that anyone's ever asked for. But if there's anything to look forward to, it's the side-splitting end credits. Ed Helms will never look the same.

Rating: 2½ stars