In this climate of hackneyed Hollywood rehashes, it is a rare pleasure to find a sequel that outdoes its predecessor. But The Hangover Part II does precisely that. From the line, “We’ve done it again,” the laughs don’t stop coming – and boy, are they some laughs. Part II takes all that was outrageous from part I and cranks it up three notches. The result: pure, ingenious pandemonium, set to a pounding soundtrack and several very loud, spectacular crashes.

It is the turn of watery, rice-pudding-like dentist Stu to wed this time, with the ceremony taking place in the exotic locale of Thailand. Like Las Vegas, this presents an ideal setting for relentless stag-party mayhem, only with fewer laws and more prostitutes. The formula is the same: the guys wake up in varying states of disgrace, with no memory of the night before and of course that obligatory missing member of the group.

Apart from some new additions, including a silent Buddhist monk in a wheelchair and Teddy, the missing younger brother of the bride, the original cast remains unchanged, including the hilariously vile Mr Chow. Maybe this is why the second film is even better; it makes countless references to the first, but far from feeling stale and repetitive, somehow the anticipation of the inevitably painful revelations of the night before makes them so much funnier. The much-loved quirks of each character – Phil’s devil-may-care attitude, Stu’s neuroses, Alan’s nuttiness and Mr Chow’s lewdness – are anticipated with an expectation that is gratified twofold. Furthermore, the antics this time around are taken to a whole new level; I’m sure I was not the only one in the cinema with my mouth left hanging open (or gagging) on several occasions.

The Hangover Part II is loud, brash and utterly, side-splittingly funny. It makes no pretensions at refinement nor attempts to hide the fact that it is shamelessly ripping off its precursor…because it does so with such spirit and surprising freshness that it completely gets away with it. Watch it if you are after rowdy, fast-paced hilarity, and are not too squeamish.

TUS Rating:

8 of 10