Billed as the grand finale to the raucous ride we’ve taken on behalf of the Wolfpack, Hangover III stays true to formula, and should not be missed by those who loved the laughs of first two films.

The boys find themselves in a challenging situation (what a surprise!), Doug is once again missing, and their problematic friendship with the larger-than-life Chow leaves them exposed to danger like never before. The obvious difference here is that the boys are not exactly ‘hung over’. Perhaps they have learnt from their mistakes and have turned a new leaf—or maybe not!

To tie up the story in a neat bow, the boys find themselves having to return to Vegas once more. It seems their first hangover just keeps on giving, and things that were set in motion all those years ago continue to demand their attention today.

The return to Vegas brings with it the opportunity to return original characters to the series, which is a rewarding touch for longstanding fans. Heather Graham returns, and Alan has a beautiful moment when he is reunited with baby ‘Carlos’, showing that these now grown men are capable of deeper levels of emotion (kind of).

In Hangover III, Alan is largely the star of the show, as is Chow. With all their friends now married and having begun new lives, both Alan and Chow must find their place in the world. The two characters are extreme, yet their ability to draw laugh after laugh continues throughout.

John Goodman is a nice addition to the cast, yet you feel he could have enjoyed a little more screen time (and a few more lines) along the way, and there is a cameo from a leading lady of comedy that’s perfectly placed.

While this final instalment is merely funny where the past two films were utter raucous hilarity, it still makes for a fun evening’s viewing. It’s patchy and, as always, largely dependant on toilet humour, but there is also a lovely backstory about friendship and the hard choices we must make to either keep or leave friends as we grow up.

A bromance like no other; it’s a break-up. I, for one, will be sad to see the Wolfpack go, but given the decline from the previous films, the timing is right.

Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
Rating: MA15+
Runtime: 100mins
Release Date: May 23
Reviewer rating: 3.5/5