ROCK ON: Director Werner Herzog (left) explores the Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
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Blu-ray extras include five deleted and extended scenes; bloopers; a piece on the character Peter Vincent; a featurette called The Official 'How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie' Guide; and the uncensored music video for Kid Cudi's "No One Believes Me."
Movie: **1/2
THE HANGOVER PART II (2011). If you're one of those who consider The Hangover the greatest comedy ever made, then this review might prove to be entirely useless, as The Hangover Part II stands a wonderful chance of earning your vote as the second greatest comedy ever made. Then again, it's entirely possible you might recognize the sheer laziness that defines this cash-grabbing sequel. It displays an alarming lack of originality and drive, in essence merely copying the exact same gags, scenarios and, unbelievably, occasional camera shots from the original. It isn't as mean-spirited or misogynistic as its predecessor, and there are a couple more chuckles, but otherwise, the only way future generations will be able to tell the pair apart is that one's set in Las Vegas while the other takes place in Bangkok. In this outing, Stu (Ed Helms, again the MVP among this motley crew) heads to Thailand to get married and takes buddies Phil (Bradley Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha) and, with much reluctance, Alan (the perennially annoying Zach Galifianakis, simply not my cup of comedic tea) with him. It's deja vu all over again, as Phil, Stu and Alan party late and wake up the next morning with no idea of what transpired the night before. Stu has a tattoo on his face, his future brother-in-law (Mason Lee) is missing, and a cigarette-smoking monkey is hanging out in their hotel room. The effeminate Mr. Chow (insufferable Ken Jeong) returns from the first picture, and there's a cameo appearance (no prize for guessing who) by a celebrity who pops up to mangle the Chess piece "One Night In Bangkok." Those yearning for some DVD or Blu-ray bawdiness at home would be well-advised to rent Bridesmaids instead, as any random scene in that picture is better than anything on display in The Hangover Part II. Besides, dropping dough on that alternative expenditure means there will be less chance that you'll hate yourself in the morning.
Blu-ray extras include a making-of feature; a look at the, ahem, "comedic vision" of director Todd Phillips; a piece on Crystal the Monkey; a tour of Bangkok with Mr. Chow; and a gag reel.
Movie: *1/2
THE HELP (2011). Every summer witnesses the release of a handful of counter-programming efforts, titles designed to satisfy audiences who don't particularly care for superhero sagas or alien adventures or gross-out gags. The Help filled that slot this year with a vengeance, grossing a sizable $169 million and positioning itself as a possible awards contender. Given its central plotline — in the racially divided Mississippi of the early 1960s, a white writer (Emma Stone's Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan) gives voice to the stories of her town's black maids — it would be easy to dismiss this adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's bestseller as yet another "liberal guilt" movie, the sort that's invariably told through the eyes of its Caucasian lead rather than those of its African-American characters. Yet while Skeeter certainly clocks a sizable amount of screen time, it's never in doubt that the true protagonists are Aibileen and Minny, two domestics brought to vivid life through the extraordinary performances by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Many of the conflicts play out as expected, and Bryce Dallas Howard's racist housewife proves to be about as subtle as Cruella De Vil. But interesting subplots abound — I particularly liked the relationship between Minny and her insecure employer Celia Foote, played by Jessica Chastain (see The Debt, above) — and with its influx of emotionally wrenching scenes, The Help provides assistance to adults in search of some cinematic substance.
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