Thought Las Vegas was bad? Think again.

The Wolfpack are back in The Hangover: Part II which you may (or may not) be surprised to find is almost an exact carbon copy of the first film, except for the fact that the shenanigans have been transplanted to Bangkok. From the opening credits to the music and the plot progression – even down to certain camera shots – this film could very well qualify as a remake if it didn’t have ‘Part II’ on the end of its title.

Phil (Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha), and his brother-in-law Alan (Galifianakis) are in town for Stu’s (second) wedding. Taking no chances after Doug’s bachelor party in Vegas, Stu (Helms) opts instead for a safe, subdued pre-wedding reception… which goes disastrously, so is followed by beers on the beach. Before they know it, they wake up in a seedy motel with no memory of the night before and, worse, no idea where Stu’s brother-in-law-to-be is. Yes, it’s the same setup, and the characters even acknowledge this as they go through the motions to try and solve the mystery: check their pockets for clues; check the roof; blame the incorrigible Alan for everything.

For what it is, however – an anted-up, slightly-less-original version of the first film’s raunchy mix of violence, mayhem and mystery – The Hangover: Part II is great fun; director Todd Phillips certainly didn’t set out to make a new Inception, after all. If you didn’t enjoy the first film, best to stay away. But if you did, you’ll definitely get a kick out of this one so be sure to come along for a night that you won’t soon forget (for better or worse).