On May 11, 2011, blogUT Featured Blogger Danielle Klein spoke with Bradley Cooper while promoting his upcoming film, The Hangover: Part II.

While promoting the much-anticipated sequel to the 2009 hit The Hangover, Bradley Cooper is relaxed and confident. Prior to the release of the first film, the actor was humble and quiet in interviews; he expressed both uncertainty and hope for the success of the film. This time around, he more than hopes for success – he expects it, declaring rather boldly, “you can’t even argue that The Hangover II isn’t as good as the first one; it’s actually better.”

His confidence in the film is grounded, as the franchise’s talented cast, absurd premise and brilliant choice of setting allow for many hysterical moments. The Wolfpack that fans have adored and emulated since The Hangover returns in its entirety, with Bradley Cooper (Phil), Zach Galifanakis (Allan), Ed Helms (Stu), and Justin Bartha (Doug) all reprising their roles from the first film. Ken Jeong, who played the role of Mr. Chow in the first film and was the focal point of a certain unforgettable naked scene, is also back for the new movie. Indeed, fans of the first movie should not be disappointed with this sequel which follows the formula established by its predecessor very ardently. Cooper noted that adhering to the structure of the first film was a major decision and a source of contention at the onset of creating the sequel, although he was ultimately thrilled with the final result. He believes that fans want to see the Hangover characters in familiar scenarios. “As a fan of the first one… I want to see them forget what happened the night before,” Cooper commented. “I want to see Phil call Tracy (Sasha Barrese) and say, ‘we fucked up’ again.”

However, Cooper is defensive against any assertion that this formulaic approach renders the film’s plot tired and repetitive. He says that this time, “we went darker and the stakes were really raised.” The comedy in the film is noticeably darker than the original, with far more instances of violence, more drug use, and a number of jokes aimed at the culture and people of Bangkok. Cooper adds that the more savage humour in the film is not malicious, because “everybody is in on the joke – except for Allan.” The stakes are also significantly raised, as Bangkok is quickly revealed to be a far more violent locale than Las Vegas for The Wolfpack, and the group becomes immersed in a drug-dealing scheme while attempting to retrace their steps prior to their intense blackout.

The Hangover: Part II benefits mostly from its strong cast of talented comedians. Cooper praises his co-stars, Ed Helms and Zach Galifanakis, and recalls that much of their acting consisted of improvised reactions. A humourous aspect of the first film was the relationship between Phil and Allan, which Cooper notes, “was something that we improvised in the first one and then we just saw through in the second one.” The location in Bangkok also gives the Hangover formula new vitality as it takes on its own persona which is less playful and devious than Vegas and more dangerous and dark, taking the structure in a different direction than what audiences saw in the first film.

The movie nevertheless maintains what its fans enjoyed in the first film, namely the noteworthy banter amongst the Wolfpack between action sequences; the swagger of the group created with panoramic city views, rap music, and slow motion; and, of course, the absurd characters and situations. There are many specific parallels that can be drawn between the two movies and the adherence to the structure of the first film is definitely striking. Therein lies the failure of the film: although the viewer enjoys the experience, it is impossible for a fan to separate one film from the other and, in the course of the comparison, the second film falls short.

The Hangover: Part II isn’t so much a ‘better’ version of The Hangover as Bradley Cooper describes, but a matured version. The characters are more developed, the action is more intense, and the jokes are bolder. However, it is the first film which established the structure, and the novelty of it possessed a magic that its successor fails to completely achieve. It is certainly hysterical and a sequel which fans of the original will likely be satisfied with, albeit with hesitance bred from commitment to the first film. It is an impressive feat in a sequel to remain true to the first movie but to achieve an attitude of its own, and The Hangover: Part II certainly deserves credit for its success in this regard, but it fails to feel like a classic, universal comedy in the manner of its predecessor due mostly to the fact of its precursor’s reputation rather than its own pitfalls. Fans of the first film should see the sequel and will likely enjoy the film due partially to the mild enthusiasm that comes with any sequel in a beloved franchise, and to the pleasant surprise that will come when they see its genuine comedic quality.  A mixed reaction is inevitable, and disappointment is sure to be among the film’s responses, but the fact that The Hangover: Part II is funny and enjoyable, even if less so than the original, is indisputable.

The Hangover: Part II was released in theatres on May 26, 2011. The film’s official trailer can be viewed here.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 27th, 2011 at 9:00 am and is filed under Entertainment, Film. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.