“The Hangover Part III” charms for the third time

It’s been two years and Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) are happily living uneventful lives at home.

The last they heard from disaster-magnet Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) was that he’d been tossed into a Thai prison. With him out of the way, the guys are close to recovering from their nights prowling the seamy side of Las Vegas in a roofie’d haze, and being kidnapped, shot at, and chased by drug-dealing mobsters in Bangkok.

The only member of the Wolfpack who’s not content is Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Still lacking a sense of purpose, the group’s black sheep has ditched his meds and given in to his natural impulses in a big way. For Alan this means no boundaries, no filters and no judgment—until a personal crisis forces him to finally seek the help he needs. And who better than his three best friends to make sure he takes the first step.

This time, there’s no bachelor party. No wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

“The Hangover Part III” is the epic conclusion to an incomparable odyssey of mayhem and bad decisions, in which the guys must finish what they started by going back to where it all began, Las Vegas. The movie reunites Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha as Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug. Also returning to the ensemble are Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow, Heather Graham as Jade, and Jeffrey Tambor as Alan’s father, Sid. Joining the starring cast is John Goodman.

One way or another…it all ends here.

“The Hangover Part III” opens in theaters Thursday, May 23. This film is rated R by the MPAA for pervasive language including sexual references, some violence and drug content, and brief graphic nudity.