Hangover 3: The Wolfpack bids adieu, the end of Hangover?

It seems the Wolfpack has lost some of their famous chemistry!

In 2009, when The Hangover hit big screens around the world, it created a ruckus about the characters of the movie and set a new standard in Hollywood’s screwball comedy genre. The sequel to Hangover, Hangover 2, released in 2011, received a similar response. Hangover 3 now brings the franchise to an end.

Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper), Dr Stuart “Stu” Price (Ed Helms), Doug Billings (Justin Bartha), and Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis) reprise their roles from the previous two installments as the ‘Wolfpack’.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

 

The first few minutes of the movie focus on Alan, who is still a child inside the body of a 42-year old man. After his father passes away, his family along with Phil and Stuart decide to send him to a mental institution so he can return as a changed man.

On their way to Arizona, masked men attack the Wolfpack, abducting them and presenting them before Marshall (John Goodman). Marshall’s accomplice is Black Doug (Mike Epps), the same person who sold drugs to Alan in Hangover part 1.



Marshall tells the Wolfpack a story they can barely believe. It seems that Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) escaped from a maximum security prison in Bangkok and stole Marshall’s gold worth $21 million.

The four friends are unaware of Chow’s whereabouts - except for Alan, who has been exchanging letters with Chow for months. The Wolfpack have no clue about Alan’s friendship with Chow. Marshall makes a deal with the Wolfpack - he will release Doug once the Wolfpack finds Chow and recovers the stolen gold.

The movie has the element of surprise as none of the main characters literally experience a hangover unlike the previous two installments, otherwise it might have turned out to be a monotonous affair.

The movie’s linear plot, with all of its main characters working non-stop to reach one main goal, is similar to its previous two parts - the reason why this franchise has performed so well.



What is amazing about Hangover 3 is the fact that the plot, not even for a second, deviates from the Wolfpack’s mission. The credit goes to the director and the producer who used the same approach with Hangover 1 and 2.

The movie, however, has its weak points. Although third time is the charm, this doesn’t really apply to Hangover 3.

Yes, the movie has some laughs. However, some of the jokes are too predictable. Alan could have been the comic relief of the movie, but his childish and immature behaviour is nothing but an extension from his role in the previous two movies, making him a flat and annoying character during some parts.



Whereas the movie follows a concrete plot, it seems at points as if the Wolfpack has lost some of its chemistry - chemistry that had remained intact up till the last installment. The Wolfpack’s strength is their ability to work as a cohesive team. Unfortunately, that was not the case in this particular movie.

Moreover, Jade (Heather Graham), who got married to Stu in the first part, only made a cameo appearance, turning Hangover 3 into an all-men affair.



The movie ends with Alan turning over a new leaf and getting married, which indicates that the franchise may actually have ended. Had the director been working on a fourth installment, Alan would have retained his childish state. However, the end credits show otherwise.

Whatever the case is, I hope that the director and producer don’t make their decision in haste. If there is a fourth part of Hangover on its way, it should have a crisp story and witty dialogues – the elements that made Hangover part 1 a blockbuster success!

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