Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'The Hangover Part III'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There comes a point for every franchise where there is nothing left to lose. It is a time to take chances that have never been taken before, and when a saga reaches that point, sometimes a well-known character or two meet their untimely end. Sometimes radical changes happen in their lives, but one way or another, the franchise is changed forever and this is an especially popular device to see when the franchise has come to its end, as was the case with the film where we said goodbye to The Wolfpack, The Hangover Part III. 

Tragedy has struck. Alan's father has passed away unexpectedly and the Wolfpack is reunited in order to help their fallen friend, who clearly needs professional help in coping with the loss of his dad and life in general. But on their way to get Alan the help he so desperately needs, a vicious drug lord known as Marshall recruits the boys to do his bidding by kidnapping Doug and threatening to kill him unless they bring Marshall an old friend who has escaped from prison...Leslie Chow.  

This was another polarizing entry in The Hangover series where once again fans either loved it or utterly hated it and it's completely understandable as to why it was so dividing. The filmmakers were left at a crossroads with Part II in the series; repeat the success of the first movie or shock the world with something new. We know which choice was made, leaving them with the opportunity to try something radically different with the finale in this trilogy. 

The end result, is indeed funny. Granted, this one is nowhere near as utterly hilarious as the first two films, but it is still filled with some incredibly wild and funny moments. Yet what separates this film from the other two is that you have to enjoy dark comedies. For all the rip roaring moments there are some genuinely bleak ones and well, I can see how that was off putting to audiences since this film was in no way as big of a runaway hit as its predecessors.  

Yet in many ways this film is a fitting finale and I give everyone behind the camera points for trying something so new and so risky. I was at the least entertained and I did want to know how the story ends because we do get to say goodbye to the Wolfpack in proper fashion. In the end, this is another one of those films that may resurface as ridiculously popular in years to come, due to the risks taken, but only time will tell. 

---