What began as a crazy bachelor party in Las Vegas grew into one of the best-known comedy trilogies of the 21st century. In 2009, The Hangover introduced us to the 'Wolfpack': three friends and their unpredictable companion Alan on a mission to reconstruct what on earth they did the night before.
The Hangover (2009)
The first film landed like a comedy bomb. Phil, Stu and Alan wake up in a trashed hotel suite with no memory of the night before, but with a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet and the groom missing. What follows is a detective puzzle full of drunken fragments, Mike Tyson and total madness. Director Todd Phillips keeps the pace high, and Zach Galifianakis as Alan instantly became a cult hero. Fresh, crude, smart and a massive worldwide success.
The Hangover Part II (2011)
Two years later the formula is copied and moved to Bangkok. The location changes, but the concept stays the same: a night that gets out of hand, followed by a bizarre search. This time it's Stu's wedding, and once again the guys end up in absurd situations, now with face tattoos, monks and even a drug-dealing monkey. The problem? The surprise is gone. The jokes are harder and the chaos bigger, but the spontaneity of the original is missing. Audiences still flocked to it.
Surprisingly solid for a sequel.
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The Hangover Part III (2013)
For the third film, the makers changed course. No blackout, no bachelor party: this time it's about Alan's mental crisis and a shady criminal deal that drags the group into more of an action comedy. Mr. Chow gets a bigger role, and the tone is more erratic than ever: less comedy, more crime, and occasionally a surprisingly serious undertone. Audiences were divided.
Brilliant filmmaking without question.
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The first film landed like a comedy bomb.