Scott Gentry reviews "The Hangover: Part Three" and was pleasently suprised...

"The Hangover: Part Three" (15)
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha.
Rated: 15 for containing strong language, sex and drug references, and brief nudity.
Out now in UK cinemas.

Plot: After the death of Alan`s (Zach Galifianakis) father, the group decide to take Alan to a metal health clinic. On the way, the group is assaulted and Doug (Justin Bartha) is kidnapped. Now, the group must find Mr Chow and deliver him in return for Doug.

It has been four years since a record-setting comedy hit the silver screens. Now, in its last part of a hilarious trilogy, The Hangover series finally, draws to a close.

After the first film made $467,483,912 (Worldwide), "The Hangover" trilogy continued with "The Hangover: Part Two" which was succsessul financially, but not critically. So, a lot of pressure was riding on the conclusion, to a crude, but enjoyable series of much loved films.

Is it good? Yes, it is. "The Hangover: Part Three" in fact entertains fairly well. The whole cast have returned (with an exception for two or three characters) and seems to have learned from their mistakes made in the last instalment.

This time round, "The Hangover: P3" has chosen to go darker, with a plot line, that is part heist thriller and violent drama. It doesn`t feel too much like a comedy, it has some entertaining jokes and some pretty awful atrocities; but nothing that makes you want to laugh out loud, like the first film. "The Hangover: P3" digs back into the plot of the first two films and delves a little deeper to try and find something interesting. Who would know that Mr Chow stole twenty one million dollars from a guy called Marshall? I certainly didn`t! I frankly don`t care!

"The Hangover: P3" tries hard and recieves some interesting performances from Galifianakis and perhaps a star turn from Ken Jeong (who plays the character Chow). You see, Todd Phillips tries hard but not hard enough. If he had a funnier script and better acting, the film might have turned out better.

What started as quite a fun comedy which slightly dipped in the middle; but turns up trumps at the end, left me with a smile on my face and perhaps a small urge for some more antics with "The Hangover" lads. A part four perhaps?

3 STARS

Written by Scott Gentry.