By Andrew Hamlin
Northwest Asian Weekly
“The Hangover,” from 2009, brought new lows to the treasured American tradition of the raunchy, slimy, morally corrupt R-rated comedy.
In the tradition of “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “Risky Business,” it presented young affluent American men behaving very, very badly and generating enormous laughs in the process. It also made a surprise star out of a hairy, overweight fellow named Zach Galifianakis, whose character, Alan Garner, generated most of the chaos — always denying, in the yelping voice of a spoiled child, that he’d done even the slightest thing wrong.
“The Hangover: Part II” finds the familiar cast in a familiar predicament but a new setting in Thailand. Here, Stu Price (played by Ed Helms) plans to wed his beautiful young fiancée Lauren (Korean American actress Jamie Chung). His best friend, the stylish ladies’ man Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper), naturally goes along.
Garner (Zach Galifianakis) is pointedly not invited. But Alan, being Alan, whines and mopes in his trademark passive-aggressive manner, until the others bring him along — a decision they’ll regret.
As before, our merry men find themselves drugged, by Alan. They wake up the next morning in a seedy Bangkok hotel far from the ritzy resort reserved for the wedding. A crucial member of their party — the bride’s younger brother Teddy (Mason Lee) — is missing. Since Teddy and Lauren’s very rich and very strict father loves Teddy more than Lauren, or anybody else, the others must find him or face ruin.
A crucial player from the first film returns for an even more important part in the sequel. This is Dr. Ken Jeong as Leslie Chow, a flamboyant cocaine dealer and international criminal.
In real life, Jeong holds a medical degree from the University of Chapel Hill at Carolina. You would never guess this by watching his performance as Chow, however. Howling, cackling, drug-snorting, and often naked or nearly so, Leslie Chow is the most dynamic character onscreen here. When he disappears for a few reels, the film’s energy begins to flag.
As the fiancée, Jamie Chung appears quite beautiful, although she isn’t given much to do except look worried. The city of Bangkok itself, and its surroundings, appear much more significant than some of the flesh-and-blood players.
The wedding resort appears pretty as a postcard. So do some of the time-lapse shots of the city at night. But a “Hangover” movie concerns itself with the lower impulses of humanity. And Bangkok has plenty of that to show.
The city’s infamous sex industry figures in the film’s action. More pervasive, though, are the constant shots of crowded avenues, taxis, fruit carts, and street markets.
Power outages, from an overworked grid serving a population of 9.1 million, happen frequently. Local residents seem to shrug at these conditions, although the film’s hapless Americans never know how to manage. A surprising sequence at a Buddhist monastery on the outskirts of the scene adds both martial arts violence and gentle reflection to the action.
The characters in “The Hangover” will never learn the adult lessons of responsibility, moderation, and humility. Their underlying narcissism prevents that. On top of which, of course, the movies no longer inspire laughter. But, so long as we can feel superior to Alan and the others, we can accept them as clowns. A more mature film, or a more mature audience, might ask if people like them exist in real life. In the meantime, enjoy the scenery, the chuckles, and the transsexual strippers. ♦
“The Hangover: Part II” opens Thursday, May 26, in Seattle. Check local listings for theaters, prices, and showtimes.
Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
pretty freaky agenda
I suggest that people join my organization, the Asian Boycotter’s League. The purpose of this is to boycott movies that portray Asians negatively:
http://asianboycottleague.wordpress.com/
It works like a petition. Please post comments on the website to promise that you will not watch the Hangover 2 or any other film that discriminates against Asians.
I have attempted to get in the film industry, but aborted my career for many reasons. The Anti-Asian trend is one of them. I did find it curious that the Jewish dominated industry would steer itself that way, but now I have some theories. I agree with this world:
“. The message they want to put out across? Asians, we f*ck you male or female.”
Understand this: the Jewish religion is headed by bankers and Royalty. And there is an agenda to keep the Aryans on top, no matter what.
Shattered Union said that there is a Jewish agenda to keep the Aryans on top. If true, then they are obviously keeping the tradition of ‘loving the people who hate them’ going. After all, Hitler himself was part Jewish. For some strange and perverted reasons, Hitler came to depise his own people for their perceived weakness. He began dissociating with his own people and identifying with their persecutors instead. It was a case of simple psycology of a highly insecure and twisted man: This is not an uncommon psycological trend and is believed to stem from their own deep seated insecurity about who they are.
In a nutshell, it seems that Jews are hung up about blonds and blue eyes precisly because that they were persecuted for not having them. Anyway, folks, cheer up little bit because no matter what, the following are facts :-
1/ China : 2nd biggest economy now, is projected to overtake the US soon. Is also a new super-power who is a member of G20/BRICS and is a current main supplier of cash to the ailing US economy
2/ Japan : 3rd biggest economy. Along with new technology powerhouse South Korea, Japan still leads in technology and innovation. Only Germany and the US are serious rivals of Japan in this regard. It needs to have more self-confidence vis-a-vis the West and needs to embrace its neighbours more. Divided, we are ruled, united we rule.
3/ South Korea : 13th biggest economy (not bad for a small nation which was shattered after the Korean War in the 50s): A rising technological powerhouse who is now leading the world in shipbuilding, LNG tanker technology, semi-conductor, cars, mobile phones, and bio-technology. It needs to forge better alliance with its immediate neighbours, Japan and China
4/ We also have India, another potential big power in the making. India is strong in service sectors rather than manufacturing unlike China/Japan/Korea. India still has a lot of its own internal problems(infrastructure, societal division, illiteracy, under-development in rural areas etc) but has a significant size of highly educated minds working toward top. I have some Indian friends and they are intelligent, hard working and ambitious.
Hollywood’s recent barrage of anti-Asian films(Hangover 2, Hall pass, Inside Job etc) could be an indication that white America and Europe feel nervous about the rise of East Asia. That’s a good thing because it shows that we are making them nervous.
i agree thisworld. hollywood definitely has anti-asians on there minds and in the movies. what worse is stupid actors like ken jeong who plays these retard stereotypes roles making asians look bad
as being asians technically chinese/japanese male i understand. hollywood still against japanese, chinese, korean etc.. just like they were 70 years ago. racism is still alive
we need boycott these f**king holland movies
BTW, soon it will be the Asians turn to f*ck these. What goes around comes back. God, I love this timeless maxim because it is f*cking true. Look at the Roman Empire. Where is it now?
I think the whole Hangover 2 was an attempt by Asian haters in Hollywood, headed by some well known f**ing Jews(for some strange reasons, they seem to direct their poison to Asians except for Japanese, even though Japan was war time ally of Nazi Germany)to demean, degrade and humiliate highly impressional young Asians. The message they want to put out across? Asians, we f*ck you male or female. So, if you are mindless, stupid and vulgar white, you will love this pathetic excuse for a movie, if you are not, you will either stay away from the garbage or hate it. Nuff said.