“The Hangover” opened in 2009 with a box office haul of $45 million. Not bad, but not that impressive. However, it went on to become the top-grossing R-rated comedy ever made. “The Hangover Part II,” released on Thursday with midnight showings making $10.4 million, looks poised to make history itself. Box office experts suspect the sequel will break the record set by “The Matrix Reloaded” in 2003, which had the biggest-ever three-day opening for an R-rated movie with $90.1 million. Most fans of the first should find the second satisfying. It’s not as good as the original, but how many sequels are? The important thing is that the filmmakers embrace the absurdity of the same three guys facing the same inexplicable amnesia after another crazy night. They even manage to create a situation in which it makes perfect sense. This time, the characters played by Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms, find themselves hunting for a missing member of Helms’ wedding party in the bowels of Bangkok. What happens in Vegas might stay in Vegas, but the Thai capital is another story entirely. The infamy of the city means director Todd Phillips could actually make this film more outrageous — and I bet you didn’t think that was possible.
It’s the weekend of sequels, if not the summer of sequels. “Kung Fu Panda 2” should come in second in the box office, and is the family-friendly choice this Memorial Day. Jack Black returns as the voice of Po, the panda who’s now a Dragon Warrior. But the Valley of Peace is threatened by a new villain, a peacock voiced by Gary Oldman, who wants to conquer … well, not really the world, just China and kung fu.
If you’re looking for something a little wittier, “Midnight in Paris” is an excellent choice. Woody Allen’s best film in years finds an unlikely cast headlining the American master’s first picture filmed entirely in the French capital. Owen Wilson is a Hollywood screenwriter who longs to stay in Paris and give up style for substance. He gets his chance when he stumbles upon a portal to 1920s Paris. He meets Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (the last played by an adorable Alison Pill). It’s a world away from that of his fiancee, played by Rachel McAdams, who starts to seem more interested in the pretentious prof played by Michael Sheen. The clever film is every bit as enchanting as the City of Light itself.
And what would a weekend at the movies be without a little violence? “13 Assassins” should satisfy any moviegoers bloodlust, though that’s about all it will fulfill. The straight-up samurai saga is a disappointing entry from the normally shocking Japanese filmmaker Takushi Miike.
Enjoy this weekend of debuts, which doesn’t include a single comic-book flick. We’re back to normal next weekend with the arrival of “X-Men: First Class.”
Kelly Jane Torrance is The Washington Examiner movie critic. Her reviews appear weekly. She can be reached at [email protected].
