Hangover 2

This time around,it’s dentist Stu who’s about to tie the knot with Lauren in her parents’ home country — Thailand. Despite ultra- cautious Stu’s best intentions,history nonetheless repeats itself after a harmless seaside toast to the groom goes terribly wrong with the boys having to retrace the steps that landed them in a fleabag Bangkok hotel along with a chain-smoking capuchin monkey. They have also awakened to a shaved head,a Mike Tyson tattoo and the ring finger (complete with ring) belonging to Lauren’s younger brother,Teddy,minus its bearer.

The reunited cast looks to have been up for a greater challenge,especially Galifianakis,who emerged as the breakout star of the first Hangover. Paul Giamatti as the don gives a sterling cameo performance,but even that is not enough for anyone to want to see Hangover 2

The Bangkok misadventure is not without its laugh-out-loud moments,but they wear off all too soon. Then the plot follows a formulaeic path wherein the locations are different,but the situations almost the same. The gags don’t evoke even a smile,let alone laughter.

Like most sequels,Hangover 2 is simply a film to miss. Or be content with a headache.

RATING

One star each for Paul Giamatti’s performance and production design.