The Hangover

The Hangover Part II is a 2011 American comedy film and sequel to 2009's The Hangover. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis. Todd Phillips directed a script written by him, Craig Mazin and Scot Armstrong.

The film was produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Production began in October 2010 and the film was released in the United States on May 26, 2011.

Production

Development and pre-production

In April 2009, Warner Bros. set director Todd Phillips to write a sequel to The Hangover with Scot Armstrong. The dealmaking came two months before The Hangover was released on June 5, 2009. While studios often wait to see box office results before committing to a sequel, The Hangover tested strongly, and a trailer brought down the house at ShoWest.

Variety later reported in July 2009, that production on The Hangover 2 would begin in October 2010, for a Memorial Day 2011 release, following the same production schedule used for the first film. Also in July Zach Galifianakis stated in an interview with Latino Review that the film will be set in Thailand, "Well, I think we're going to Thailand. The problem with 'Hangover 2' is that we have to live up to what we did which is very difficult. So we get, I think, kind of kidnapped. It has nothing to do with the bachelor party. We're definitely not doing that again but we do end up in an exotic location. That's all I know.

In January 2010, director Todd Phillips dismissed rumors that Zac Efron would join the cast of The Hangover 2, though actor Ed Helms stated Efron would be a welcomed addition, commenting, "I love that guy. He's actually really funny.

In March 2010, Todd Phillips denied reports that the film would take place in Mexico or Thailand stating, "I don’t know. There’s a lot of rumors. There was rumor also that it was going to Mexico or something and neither are true.  Also in March it was reported that Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha had all completed talks and were ready to sign deals to reprise their roles in the sequel. Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms will each reportedly be paid in the vicinity of $5 million against 4% of first dollar gross. Director/producer Todd Phillips will reportedly be paid around $10 million against 10%. Phillips was also offered escalators and bonuses to ensure that if the sequel does anywhere close to the original’s $467 million worldwide gross, then he would not make less than his income on the original.

Filming

On a budget of $80 million, principal photography began on October 8, 2010 in Ontario, California with the first images of production being released a few days later. It was also reported in October that actress Heather Graham would not be reprising her role as Jade from the first film. Later in the same month it was reported that Mel Gibson would have a cameo appearance in the film as a Bangkok tattoo artist. Four days later Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures and director Todd Phillips confirmed that Gibson would not be appearing in the film. Phillips stated: “I thought Mel would have been great in the movie and I had the full backing of [WB president] Jeff Robinov and his team. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew.  Liam Neeson stepped in to replace Mel Gibson after he was invited to take the cameo role via his A-Team co-star Bradley Cooper. Neeson, a fan of the first film stated, "I just got a call to do a one day shoot on 'Hangover 2' as a tattooist in Thailand, and that's all I know about it. Gibson was reportedly furious over the decision. A source close to Gibson stated, "He doesn't understand why Mike Tyson, a drug user who turned his life around, was given a chance while Mel was kicked to the curb. Everybody deserves a second chance.

In November 2010, it was reported that Jamie Chung had been cast in the film as Stu's fiancée as well as it being renamed, The Hangover Part II.  In an interview director Todd Phillips revealed that Mike Tyson would be back in the sequel. Also in November it was reported that Paul Giamatti had joined the cast. The next day it was reported that former U.S. President Bill Clinton filmed a cameo appearance for the film in Bangkok while he was in the city to deliver a speech on clean energy. However Ed Helms clarified that Clinton merely visited the set and would be surprised if he appeared in the film.

Release

The Hangover Part II held its premiere on May 19, 2011 at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.

Marketing

The first teaser trailer was released online in February 2011. The first full trailer was released in April 2011. Later in the same month Warner Bros. pulled the trailer from theaters for violating an MPAA rule stating that films can only trailer before similarly rated movies. The trailer for the R-rated comedy was being promoted at screenings for the PG-13-rated, Source Code against MPAA regulations. Warner Bros. released a statement saying, "In our haste to meet the placement schedule for this trailer, we failed to properly vet the final version with the MPAA. We acted immediately to correct the mistake and removed the trailer from screens.

Reception

Box office

As of June 9, 2011, The Hangover Part II has accrued $195,218,708 in the US and Canada and a further $151,500,000 in international territories for a worldwide gross of $346,718,708.

United States and Canada

The film was released on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in North America, coinciding with the U.S. Memorial Day weekend. During launch midnight showings in 2,600 theaters, the film earned $10.4 million, breaking the record for the biggest midnight opening for an R-rated film, replacing Paranormal Activity (2007) with $6.3 million. The film opened in a further 1,015 theaters during the launch day for a total of 3,615 - becoming the widest opening ever for an R-rated film - and earned a further $21.2 million to accrue a launch day total of $31.6 million; nearly doubling The Hangover's Friday launch opening ($16.7 million). This amount broke two further records; the highest-grossing opening day for a live-action comedy and the highest-grossing opening day for an R-rated comedy film, replacing Sex and the City (2008) with $26.7 million.  According to exit polling, the launch day audience was 51% female and 41% were aged between 18 and 24. On Friday May 27, the film took an additional $30.0 million, dropping only 5% from the takings of the previous day and becoming the highest-grossing Friday for a live-action comedy. The three day (Friday-through-Sunday) opening weekend accumulated $85,946,294 - an average of $23,923 per theater - becoming the highest grossing opening weekend for a comedy film, replacing The Simpsons Movie ($74 million), the highest-grossing opening weekend for a live-action comedy, replacing Austin Powers in Goldmember ($73 million), the highest-grossing opening weekend for an R-rated comedy, replacing Sex and the City ($79 million) and the second-highest grossing opening weekend of all time for an R-rated film, behind The Matrix Reloaded ($91.7 million). For the Memorial Day four-day weekend, the film amassed $103.4 million to become the fourth highest-grossing Memorial Day weekend opening. However, in its second weekend the film gross dropped 64% from the previous weekend - the original film dropping only 27% during its second weekend - and grossed $31.4 million.

Plot

Two years after their escapade in Las Vegas, Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are traveling to Thailand to celebrate Stu's impending wedding to Lauren (Jamie Chung). Much to Alan's dismay, they are joined by Lauren's younger brother, Teddy (Mason Lee). During Lauren's father's (Nirut Sirijanya) toast, he shows his disapproval of Stu by comparing him to rice porridge. At the end of the night, Stu hesitantly joins Phil, Doug, Alan and Teddy for a beer. Sitting at a campfire and roasting marshmallows, the group toast to Stu and Lauren's future happiness.

The following morning, Phil, Stu and Alan, along with gangster Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) (whom Alan befriended after Las Vegas) and a chain-smoking capuchin monkey, awaken in a dirty hotel room in Bangkok. Stu has a face tattoo, and Alan's head is completely shaven. However, they cannot find Teddy, only discovering his severed finger. Chow begins recalling the events of the prior night, but his heart stops after snorting a line of cocaine. Panicked, the trio dispose of Chow's body in an ice machine.

Cast

Bradley Cooper as Phil Wenneck

Ed Helms as Dr. Stuart "Stu" Price

Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner

Justin Bartha as Doug Billings

Ken Jeong as Leslie Chow

Jeffrey Tambor as Sid Garner

Jamie Chung as Lauren, Stu's fiancée

Bryan Callen as Samir, a smarmy strip club owner in Bangkok

Mason Lee as Teddy, Lauren's brother

Paul Giamatti as Kingsley, an undercover Interpol agent

Sasha Barrese as Tracy Billings, Doug's wife

Gillian Vigman as Stephanie Wenneck, Phil's wife

Yasmin Lee as Kimmy

Nirut Sirijanya as Lauren's father

Cooper, Helms, Galifianakis, Bartha, Jeong, Barrese and Tambor reprise their roles from the first film. Mike Tyson also reprises his role as himself and sings a cover of the 1984 Murray Head song "One Night in Bangkok" for the movie. The film is the Hollywood debut of Mason Lee, son of director Ang Lee. Nick Cassavetes has a cameo appearance as a Bangkok tattoo artist. Liam Neeson was initially cast in that role, which was originally envisioned for Mel Gibson.