The "Worst Hangover Ever" Finally Reaches Its Finale!

The ultimate hangover – a feeling everyone has experienced. This universal theme resonated with audiences globally, leading "The Hangover" (2009) to debut at number one in 27 countries and win the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. Its sequel, "The Hangover Part II" (2011), set a new box office record for comedy films.

The ultimate "idiotic" comedy, which swept the world into fits of laughter and empathy, is finally concluding. "The Hangover Part III," the third and final chapter, arrives in Japan on Friday, June 28th, about a month after its world premiere in the United States.

The familiar cast and crew have reunited for this installment. The director is Todd Phillips, a hitmaker of "idiotic" comedies such as "Old School" (2003) and "Due Date" (2010). Co-writing the screenplay with Phillips, following "The Hangover Part II," is Craig Mazin. And reprising their roles as the incorrigibly "idiotic" trio – the unnecessarily handsome Phil, the perpetually unlucky dentist Stu, and the massively disruptive Alan – are Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis.

The familiar trio. From left: Bradley Cooper as Phil, Zach Galifianakis as Alan, and Ed Helms as Stu.

The Final Chapter's Setting: Bangkok and Las Vegas

In a nutshell, this story is about "finding Mr. Chow." If you heard that name, you might know who it is. Yes, he's the familiar villain from "The Hangover," the Chinese mafia boss who wreaked havoc on Phil, Stu, and Alan in the previous two films. Two years after the chaotic events in Thailand, the "worst hangover ever" is about to stir up trouble again, spanning Bangkok and Las Vegas.—.

The story kicks off with Mr. Chow escaping from prison in Bangkok. Meanwhile, Alan's father, exasperated by his son's incorrigible behavior, suffers a fatal shock. His family and friends are at their wit's end, declaring, "We can't handle him anymore!"

After the funeral, Alan's brother-in-law, Doug, approaches Phil and Stu with a plan: to admit Alan into a specialized rehabilitation facility. To convince Alan, they all set off for a facility in Arizona.



However, during their journey, they are ambushed by gangsters, and Doug is taken hostage. The gang leader issues an ultimatum: "If you want your friend back, find Mr. Chow, who stole my $21 million in gold." This raises a simple question: "But why us?" The reason? Alan was Mr. Chow's pen pal. Thus, the trio embarks on a pursuit of Chow, leading them into a "meeting of reflection." What awaits them?

This is truly the last time we'll see them. We have no choice but to witness the fate of this trio amidst a storm of trouble and laughter until the very end!

"I felt that Alan was the one who truly needed healing in this series."

—How did the story for "The Hangover Part III" come about? When you finished the second film, did you know there would be a third?

Director: Todd Phillips (Phillips)We discussed the possibility of a third film while shooting the second. I wanted to make one more, so we talked about it. We explored about five different directions for the third film. The current version solidified about two years ago when we had in-depth discussions and began writing the script.

Screenwriter: Craig Mazin (Mazin)We came up with a few outlandish ideas. In those moments, we'd explain them over the phone and say, "Yeah, that's outlandish, and good." Then one day, Todd said, "We have about three or four key points in the plot right now. How do we best bring these to life? Why are they important? And what kind of ending would be fitting for this film to conclude? Let's discuss it."

PhillipsWe wanted a proper conclusion. I felt that Alan was the one who truly needed healing in this series. So, it felt natural for the third film to be Alan's story.

—Were there any ideas that were too extreme and ultimately not used in the film?

PhillipsIt wasn't so much about being extreme as it was about tone. You might not believe it, but we made an effort to maintain a certain tone throughout this series. While this third film is a bit darker than the previous ones, the tone remains consistent. So, even if we came up with a joke in a room and laughed about it for five minutes, we'd then look at each other and agree, "This would ruin the overall tone of the movie," and discard it. It might have been the funniest joke in the film, but it would have been fleeting, and it's incredibly difficult to restore a broken tone.

MazinI think some people believe we made this series with the concept of "Let's show how outrageous we can be." Indeed, we've continuously tried to outdo our own outrageousness with even more outrageousness. But the key isn't the outrageousness itself. The characters do outrageous things for a reason, and if their reactions are genuine, it's funny. However, we never wanted to start a game of "Look how much we can worsen the situation," or "Look what ridiculous things we can do."

—Why do you think the first film was so well-received by audiences?

PhillipsI believe audiences enjoyed the film's irreverent nature, its unapologetic comedic spirit. It became a global hit, frankly, because the concept of "hangover" itself is universal. Everyone has experienced a wild night, and everyone has made bad decisions.

But ultimately, it's about those three guys. I think the casting of those three was key. It was the right time for them to come together. Their comedic styles stem from different places, and they harmonize in a truly interesting way. In comedy, actors' strengths often come from very similar origins. They collaborate with a similar sensibility. But with these three, they truly complement each other.

"This trilogy will surely entertain many people for a long time to come."

—Alan is a comical character, but what are the directors' views on the other two?

PhillipsIt's often said that comedy is about reaction, not action. Ed Helms, who plays Stu, is a king of reaction. Think of Ed when he wakes up to find his tooth chipped or a tattoo on his face. There's no actor better than Ed at reacting. He's truly the unsung hero of this series.

If Alan is the one who can't grow up, then Phil, played by Bradley Cooper, is like the father figure in this group. But Phil is the type who doesn't really worry about anything.

MazinPhil is a cool guy. Traditionally, movies have a lovable idiot character, and in this series, that's Alan. But what's interesting about him is that in this film, he's questioning, "Is this really okay?" That type of character has existed for a long time.

For example, John Belushi often played such characters. But there wasn't a single movie where the other characters would say, "Whoa, hold on a minute. He's hilarious in the dorm, but he's actually dangerous, we need to get him to a doctor" (laughs). So, that's what I really like about this movie. They face reality and say, "You're not okay. You need to stop this."

—When you started writing the script for this movie, did you have a clear idea of where each character would end up by the conclusion of the trilogy?

MazinOf course, by the end of this third film, I wanted Stu to find peace of mind. He's been through too much. Phil doesn't need peace of mind; he's always at peace. He has a wife and children. Phil is the only one among them who, while engaging in dangerous activities, is the cool guy who knows how to seamlessly return to his normal life as an adult.



—When you were filming the final scene, everyone knew it was the end. What was the atmosphere on set like?

PhillipsThe last scene we shot was indeed the final scene of the movie. We saved it for last, and it felt poignant. But it was great. I felt good because we had finished this movie. I believe this trilogy will entertain many people for a long time, becoming a film like those I grew up watching, something people will talk about for years. We've completed such a trilogy. And of course, I'm sad. We spent five years together. We traveled around the world together, and we became very close. But in reality, we see each other often even after that, so it won't change much.

—If, five years from now, you were asked to make another "Hangover" movie, would you gather the same cast? Or is this truly the end?

PhillipsI believe this is truly the end for this cast, for us, and for any work I'm involved in. It's a complete period. This is the final decision. We are satisfied with that.

Todd Phillips | Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Beginning his career as a documentary filmmaker, he draws humor from everyday life and the belief that "truth is stranger than fiction." His directorial debut, the documentary "Hated: GG Allin & The Murder Junkies" (1994), chronicled the bizarre behavior of the extreme punk rocker GG Allin. It became a cult sensation upon release, achieving the highest box office gross for a student film at the time. His second documentary, "Frat House," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998 and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary. In 2000, he directed and wrote his first feature film, "Road Trip," establishing him as a rising star in the comedy world. His notable works include "Old School" (2003) and "Due Date" (2010).

Craig Mazin | Screenwriter
Screenwriter. Most recently, he co-wrote the hit comedy "Identity Thief" (2013), starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, and directed by Seth Gordon. He is also credited as a screenwriter and producer for the animated comedy "Free Birds," scheduled for release later this year. Following "The Hangover Part II" (2011), he co-wrote this film with Todd Phillips.

"The Hangover Part III"
Opening Friday, June 28th, at Shinjuku Piccadilly, Marunouchi Piccadilly, and other theaters nationwide. Subtitled and dubbed versions will be shown simultaneously.
Director | Todd Phillips
Screenplay | Todd Phillips, Craig Mazin
Starring | Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Heather Graham, and others
Distribution | Warner Bros. Pictures
2013 / USA / 100 min / PG-12
http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/thehangover3/
© 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures