After the success of the first two Hangover movies, a third instalment was always inevitable. The original is rightfully considered to be the best film in the trilogy, but, despite a hammering from critics unimpressed with the same plot in a different location, Part II actually made a staggering $587 million at the worldwide box office, some feat for an R-rated comedy. When it came to Part III, however, writers Todd Phillips and Craig Mazin took the criticism a little too literally and eliminated the whole concept of solving the mystery of the night before by removing the actual hangover from the equation all together. In place of the tried and tested formula, the Wolfpack are sent on a road trip that ends up in them being kidnapped by the most unconvincing mob boss in the history of mob bosses. The third and final film is such a detour from what came before it that it barely warrants being part of the franchise. In what is essentially the Lesley Chow show, the chief characters take a back seat to the series villain and his tiresome antics all too often. There was never room for yet another wedding/bachelor party gone wrong, though an exploration of Allens (Zach Galifianakis) past could have taken the series in a new direction without sacrificing the style or the humour. Galifianakos was the stand-out performer in the first two films, with every memorable moment involving him in some way. We know from seeing his police record (which, if youll recall, included one charge of masturbating on a public bus) that Allen had gotten into his fair share of scrapes before the events of The Hangover, and a standalone Allen Garner movie could have really been something. Perhaps even the start of a whole new franchise. Which other disappointing sequels should have been prequels instead? Shout out any more down in the comments.
