-
Reviews for The Hangover Part II run the gamut from a fun evening to boorish blackout.
"...a cleverly structured, pretty funny sequel..."
— Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly"...makes an excellent companion piece to the original, still one of the new millennium's classic comedies."
— Bill Gibron, filmcritic.com"...this sequel is about the ching, ching, not the comic arts. Me, I'm left with morning-after regrets."
— Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times"...more like a spitball meeting, a series of ideas that might, in theory, be good enough for a sequel, than it is an actual movie."
— Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune"[It's] something like the contents of a fraternity house's toilet the morning after an insane kegger — namely, regurgitated elements of a more entertaining prior adventure."
— Nick Schager, Slant Magazine -
Summer 2011 is filled with sequels, spin-offs, and reboots — if there's any doubt, look at the numbers tacked onto the titles of the newest big releases (Hangover II, Panda 2, Pirates 4). That's right, as exciting as the season's blockbusters may seem, we're being inundated with one of the most unoriginal summers the movies have ever seen. Within that context, though, which movies rise above the "Yeah, we phoned this one in" benchmark? Find out with our patent-pending originality meter.
From 1 to 10, where do these releases register? >>
Posted 05.27.11 by reelz -
If you still haven't decided which movie you're going to see this weekend, Warner Bros. wants to remind you why you loved the "Wolf Pack" — Zach Galifianakis as Alan, Bradley Cooper as Phil, and Ed Helms as Stu, with Ken Jeong along for the ride as Mr. Chow — so much in The Hangover by squeezing some new footage of the trouble they get themselves into in The Hangover Part II into the latest TV spot.
watch the new TV spot >> Posted 05.27.11 by BrentJS -
Today's Challenge: Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Hangover Part II both open nationwide this week. Can you find a movie link to connect stars Angelina Jolie and Bradley Cooper?
Our first Facebook movie game, ClusterFlick, plays off that old "six degrees of separation" theory — you know, the one that has a certain Kevin at the center of the Hollywood universe. It's easy to play, but not so easy to win. The goal is to use the major cast of movies to get from Point A to Point B in the smallest number of moves.
Play ClusterFlick >>
Posted 05.27.11 by reelz -
This week sees the release of The Hangover: Part II, which may be the most highly anticipated comedy this year and maybe even the most highly anticipated sequel (which, weirdly, is a much larger category). We know we'll be checking it out, but why should you take another trip with the wolf pack?
5 Reasons to see The Hangover: Part II
Posted 05.26.11 by reelz -
Just shy of one month ago, S. Victor Whitmill, the tattoo artist who designed former boxing champ-turned-actor Mike Tyson's distinctive Maori-inspired facial art, filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. (WB) for the "unauthorized exploitation" of the artist's "Original Tattoo" in The Hangover Part II because the character of Stu (played by Ed Helms) sports a similar tattoo in the movie. Claiming "copyright infringement," lawyers for the plaintiff requested an injunction to stop the release of the movie and also targeted WB's use of the image in ads and trailers for the movie.
While it may seem like a frivolous lawsuit to some, WB took it seriously enough that the studio sent two of its top executives to St. Louis on Monday to testify in federal court. Yesterday, Judge Catherine D. Perry ruled against Whitmill's request for an injunction, which means WB can proceed with plans to release The Hangover Part II on Thursday, as scheduled. Judge Perry cited "the public interest" as the reason for the injunction denial.
The public interest does favor protecting the thousands of other business people in the country as well as Warner Brothers, and not causing those nonparties to lose money, and I think it would be significant, and I think it would be disruptive. I think that tilts the public interest in favor of Warner Brothers on this because all over the country people would be losing money if I were to enjoin this movie.
it's not all good news for The Hangover Part II. Read more >> Posted 05.25.11 by BrentJS -
ReelzChannel Celebrity Rundown
Maria Shriver was so upset after learning about husband Arnold Schwarzenegger's love child that she threatened to hold her own news conference to announce the shocking secret. She was talked out of that plan but was responsible for leaking the story to the Los Angeles Times and TMZ. Shriver is not showing signs of any interest in reconciliation as she's hired a private dick to investigate Schwarzenegger's double life as a cheating husband.
Meanwhile, battle lines are definitely being drawn as Beverly Hills boutique Kitson is preparing to sell "Team Maria" T-shirts.
***
The world did not end on Saturday, May 21, as evangelist Harold Camping had predicted, but now he says that was an "invisible Judgment Day" and that both the Rapture and the apocalypse will now happen on October 21.
RELATED: Thanks to the extended deadline, there's more time to Vote for Your "Last Day on Earth" Movie Pick.
***
Donald Trump maybe should've waited until The Celebrity Apprentice's season finale ratings were released before deciding not to run for president, as the show that crowned John Rich the winner was the franchise's lowest spring finale ever.
***
The lawsuit by Mike Tyson's tattoo artist to stop the release of The Hangover Part II is being taken seriously enough by Warner Brothers that it sent two execs to St. Louis to testify in a federal court hearing on Monday. S. Victor Whitmill is "seeking an injunction on the grounds that the facial tattoo worn in the film by Ed Helms violates a copyright in the original work Whitmill created for Tyson." A ruling is expected early today (Tuesday).
***
One day after getting savaged for his gold jacket at the Billboard Music Awards, Justin Bieber added more fuel to the fashion critique fire, seen in Hawaii with Selena Gomez in ankle-tickling camo cargo shorts and Adidas Adilettes.
***
Lindsay Lohan's had two straight days of wardrobe malfunctions while vacationing/working in Miami. First the wind blew open her low-cut dress while doing a photo shoot for Plum magazine, then a nipple slipped while playing in the Miami Beach surf.
***
Former boxing champ and People magazine "Most Beautiful People" lister Oscar De La Hoya has entered rehab for substance abuse.
Posted 05.24.11 by reelz -
Next week, audiences will get to see whether director/co-writer Todd Phillips can strike rated-R comedy gold again with the sequel, The Hangover Part II. The movie reunites Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), Stu (Ed Helms), and Doug (Justin Bartha) as they head to Bangkok, Thailand, for another night they can't remember.
A new featurette explains the movie's story, which shouldn't be difficult to follow for anyone that saw the original movie, something that Phillips says was done entirely on purpose. "The blueprint of the Hangover 2 is very similar to the blueprint of Hangover one," Phillips admitted to CNN. "It's a special thing that the Hangover sort of owns that blueprint."
We talked a lot about ways to make a sequel. The freshest way is in embracing that template that existed but spinning it. "There's not one joke that's the same in the movie. It's essentially a comedy, every joke is different. And, since when have comedies really been so much about the plot?
watch the featurette >> Posted 05.20.11 by Ryan -
ReelzChannel Celebrity Rundown: Happy Rapture Edition
Just in time for tomorrow's planned Rapture, Beyonce's new video for "Run the World (Girls)" looks like it was shot in the post-apocalyptic Bartertown from Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
***
Speaking of the apocalypse, E! Online has come up with a list of 10 things they'll miss that includes The Royal Baby and the Breaking Dawn movies.
***
According to RadarOnline, Arnold Schwarzenegger did not voluntarily tell Maria Shriver about his love child — as Arnold has led people to believe — and confessed only after a suspecting Shriver confronted Mildred Baena, who broke down and spilled the beans.
***
Schwarzenegger's big-screen comeback is on hold — including his anticipated return to the Terminator franchise — while the former governor focuses "on personal matters."
***
Former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Danielle Staub was paid $25K for a strip video, but has quit her 3-year pole-dancing contract to seek mental help from Dr. Drew, and is now being sued by Scores Gentleman's Club for $375K for breach.
***
Dressed in a gown and accessorized with pearls, Crystal the Hangover 2 monkey stole the show last night at the movie's red carpet premiere.
***
Track Palin, the 22-year-old son of Sarah Palin, has married his high school sweetheart at a small ceremony in Hatcher Pass, Alaska.
***
Sarah Palin bête noire Katie Couric signed off CBS Evening News for the last time on Thursday night. Scott Pelley takes over the job starting June 6.
Posted 05.20.11 by reelz -
The red carpet premiere of one of the most highly anticipated comedies of all time, writer-director Todd Phillips' The Hangover Part II, takes place later today and Bing is giving you the opportunity to feel like you're part of the action. Starting at 6:30 PM PDT/9:30 PM EST, you can watch live streaming coverage of the premiere right here via the NowLive video tool (below).
Unfortunately, hirsute funnyman Zach Galifianakis, who reprises the role of Alan from the first movie, will not be in attendance, but the rest of the "Wolf Pack"—Bradley Cooper as Phil, Ed Helms as Stu and Justin Bartha as Doug— will be, along with Ken Jeong, returns as Mr. Chow, Mike Tyson and Jamie Chung, who joins the cast as Stu's fiancé. Other celebrities confirmed to appear include Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Will Ferrell, Rainn Wilson, Danny McBride, George Lopez, Nas, Jay-Z and Rihanna.
watch the red carpet premiere LIVE! >> Posted 05.19.11 by BrentJS