film reviews: hangover part 2, xmen: first class, cane toads: the conquest

The Hangover Part 2. Director: Todd Phillips

The creators of The Hangover Part 2 have succeeded in making the same film again. But that’s not to say that this is necessarily a terrible thing. In a world where countless sequels, prequels and remakes are being churned out of Hollywood and into the cinemas every week, this film is not a huge surprise – and let’s face it – the first film worked so well. It was also responsible for catapulting Bradley Cooper and (to a lesser extent) the bizarre Zach Galifianakis to stardom.

This time Stu (Ed Helms) is due to be wed in Thailand and hopes to avoid what happened to Dougie (Justin Bartha) in the original film, so he decides to celebrate his bachelor party over brunch at the local IHOP (International House of Pancakes). But when Alan (Zach Galifianakis) is invited to the wedding out of pity, the ‘wolf pack’ manage to lose yet another member of the party – this time it’s Stu’s much younger brother in law-to-be, Teddy.

So, instead of Vegas, they’re in Bangkok, and instead of a baby, they end up with a monkey. Thankfully Mr Chow (Community’s Ken Jeoung) has a larger role – he plays an eccentric drug dealer caught amongst various nefarious activities. And the likeable Paul Giamatti makes a brief appearance. While the plot may seem lazy at times, there are a couple of moments where audiences are bound to laugh out loud.

X-Men: First Class. Director: Matthew Vaughn

Set in 1960, X-men: First Class sets out to explain the relationship between Charles Xavier/Professor X (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender) as they develop their unique powers. The pair started out as close friends who worked together with fellow Mutants (Raven/Mystique, Hank/Best and Sean/Banshee amoung others) to stop the evil Sebastin Shaw (Kevin Bacon), but their relationship soon deteriorates as some of the Mutants begin turn on one another. Still bitter about the past and eager to seek revenge, Erik becomes power hungry and subsequently causes a rift, creating the war between his Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men– as depicted in the earlier titles.

Even though the film loses its rhythm towards the end, the high production values, likeable characters and impressive acting from a predominately young cast (although Kevin Bacon is also particularly notable), the film serves as an easy and fairly entertaining watch.

Cane Toads: The Conquest. Director: Mark Lewis

Cane Toads, The Conquest is an interesting Australian documentary filmed in 3D (the first of its kind). The opening sequence is quite effective as a cane toads jumps directly into the viewers face, and writer/director Mark Lewis says that he utilised 3D technology because he wanted audiences to “immerse themselves in the life of the cane toad” (May, 2011). As the documentary notes, the cane toad was introduced to Australia in 1935 to control greyback cane beetles, which were destroying the sugar cane crops in Queensland. But as many of us are aware, the cane toads where not interested in the beetles, and they have since multiplied in excessive numbers across the country.

This film depicts a somewhat balanced account – Mark Lewis has not chosen to fight for, or against the cane toad. At times viewers may feel sympathetic towards the cruel ways that people kill the toads – from catapulting them on fireworks, to stabbing them with gardening tools, to gassing them with car exhausts. Interviews with cane toad admirers are also interspersed throughout, as some interviewees reminisce about the good times they spent with their pet cane toads when they were young. These images however, are contrasted with footage of the severe damages they can cause, and the dangers they pose to household pets.

A variety of quirky figures are interviewed which adds a level of humour – most notably Kev who runs his own macabre ‘travelling toad show’, and Dibby – a dog who may be addicted to the cane toad’s toxic spray. While there are many high points to the film, it doesn’t lead to much in the end, and the inclusion of various ‘recreation’ scenes adds an unnecessary level of melodrama. But it will leave viewers thinking about the nature, and the future, of the cane toad in Australia.