The Hangover Part 2 Blu-ray review

            There are no true surprises in the storyline of The Hangover 2, and perhaps that is why I actually liked it more than I did the original. I’m not saying it is a masterpiece, but for me it was somewhat more enjoyable. I wasn’t a fan of the first film, mostly because it seemed as though all of the humor was random and a bit forced. Knowing to expect this formula upon watching the sequel, I was permitted to sit back and enjoy the absurdity. Even though the storyline is exactly the same as the original film, just in a different city, it was the dialogue which I found surprising.

            The Blu-ray disc doesn’t even have a plot description anywhere on the package. This film was built off of the success of The Hangover, which is about the piecing together of a forgotten night of partying during a bachelor party in Las Vegas. They wake up with a variety of strange situations and a missing groom. This time the Wolfpack is in Thailand and they lose the brother-in-law of the groom (Ed Helms). The Wolfpack (Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zack Galifianakis) is comprised of three unlikely friends who again find themselves hungover and confused about the previous evening’s debauchery. 

            There are so many similarities to the original film that it becomes predictable. Instead of baby, they have a monkey. These are the minute details that are altered. Instead of a missing tooth, a face tattoo. This is not really that funny, but somehow there are enough well-written lines to help save the film. The actors are good enough to keep the film entertaining even in its absurdity and unoriginality.

            The Blu-ray combo pack includes a DVD and an Ultraviolet digital copy on top of the high definition disc. The special features include an unauthorized documentary of the filmmaking process, with fittingly vulgar hijinks. There is also a featurette with director Todd Phillips and one about the monkey in the film. These are not the same featurette. The last feature is an unreliable video tour of Bangkok with Mr. Chow, easily the most annoying character in the film’s franchise.