‘The Hangover Part II’ feels like a hangover

If you really want to see The Hangover Part II, then just rent the original movie. You’ll be better off.

The sequel is an abysmal retread of the great comedy flick that ignited the box office in 2009 and made instant stars of its lead cast. What a wasted opportunity this new movie turned out to be.

The old crew is back, including funny man Zach Galifianakis, straight man Ed Helms, suave man Bradley Cooper and the now-married man Justin Bartha. The four get together again for, surprise, another bachelor party. This time it’s Stu’s turn (Helms). Since we last left the dentist, Stu has ditched his old girlfriend (I do miss the one-liners from Rachael Harris) and is ready to fly to Thailand to marry a woman way out of his league (the beautiful Jamie Chung).

Tagging along for the ride are Phil (Cooper), Alan (Galifianakis) and Doug (Bartha). Soon enough, there’s too much alcohol being passed around and the guys wake up bleary-eyed and lost in Bangkok. Except for the change in locale, this movie has the exact same premise as the original, but the payoff is not nearly as funny.

For some odd reason, Doug is kept on the sidelines. He’s the only one that wakes up still at the hotel, while the other three guys have to brave the streets of Bangkok to get Stu back to the wedding and also find Stu’s future brother-in-law (Mason Lee, son of director Ang Lee). Stopping them from achieving their goals is a pesky monkey, Mike Tyson, Paul Giamatti as a hardened crime boss and everyone’s lovable coke head, Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong).

Todd Phillips, who directed the movie and co-wrote it with Craig Mazin and Scot Armstrong, seems to think that the funnier route for a sequel is to amp up the raunchiness. And, The Hangover Part II is raunchy. There are countless jokes about Bangkok (for some odd reason, the film makes this capital city out to be a complete hellhole) and also some full-front nudity thrown in. Being dirty can be OK if the humor keeps the movie on track and the laughs are well-earned. In The Hangover Part II, the jokes are serviceable, but nothing special. The script takes for granted that the audience knows what to expect.

Helms is given the best material to work with, and he has the comedic chops to pull it off. Galifianakis is also quite funny, stealing many of his scenes away from the other actors. Jeong’s Mr. Chow seems too old hat, and Cooper and Bartha barely register in their roles.

What The Hangover Part II does prove is that lightning doesn’t always strike twice. Hopefully the third time’s the charm.

• The Hangover Part II

• 2011

• Directed by Todd Phillips

• Written by Phillips, Craig Mazin and Scot Armstrong

• Starring Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Zach Galifianakis, Paul Giamatti, Ken Jeong, Mike Tyson, Mason Lee and Jamie Chung

• Running time: 102 minutes

• Rated R

• Bubble score: 2 out of 4