THE HANGOVER PART III [2013]

After the retread shittiness of the second film, it's nice to see director Todd Phillips put some care back into the final instalment of his Hangover series.
It ditches the "hangover" template of the story all together (you could be critical as to why it's called the Hangover then, but do you really want to bother wasting your time with something so silly?) and instead it allows the story to develop into a comedic manhunt/suspense film.  In a way it works quite well and in others it's a bit of a misstep as well.  There's a few good laughs to be had but at times it's just too dark or angry to fully enjoy it as supposedly funny film.  Hardcore fans of the series will eat it up but casual viewers will scratch their heads wondering if this is supposed to be funny or intense.

2½ coked up cocks out of 5

THE HANGOVER PART II [2011]

Todd Phillips' second instalment of the Hangover series lacks the element of surprise of the first and fails to bring anything really all that funny to the screen.

If not for the relocation from Las Vegas to Thailand the story would be an exact copy of the first one, only a bit more violent and grittier.  There's a few scattered laughs throughout the film but in the end, you can't help but feel that it's a result of screenwriting laziness and Hollywood producers eager to shit out a cash cow before it's fully cooked.

1 night in Bangkok out of 5

THE HANGOVER [2009]

It's a strange time when a vulgar & stupid film like Todd Phillips' fratboy humored The Hangover receives the critical adoration & awards one wouldn't expect it to.

I like to believe they gushed over it because it is pretty damned funny but sadly I'm willing to bet it's the box office intake that did it instead.  It's pretty much a fast-paced version of Dude, Where's My Car? set in Vegas and thankfully without Ashton Kutcher.  The characters are insanely underdeveloped, the premise and actions are overly outlandish and it will probably offend anyone who takes too much pride in their intelligence but if it's a buddy buddy film you're looking for then this is a good place to start.  

3 men and a baby out of 5