The Hangover: Extreme Edition [Blu-Ray]

Cynically releasing the same movie again and again isn't anything new, but the adoption of a new format – Blu-Ray – has given studios another excuse to return to the well. That said, the allegedly new edition of The Hangover pushes things a little too far. The Extreme Edition comes in a slipcase that houses a 28-page hardcover book containing some of the tamer wedding photos from the lost digital camera in the film. Also adding to the "extremeness" of the package is a CD featuring five songs from the soundtrack, although four of them are performed by cast members, leaving only "Who Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men as the lone licensed song. The actual Blu-Ray is exactly the same as the previous release, with nothing new or more extreme. That said, the film is still a rather enjoyable romp that doesn't quite deserve the top comedy rating it's been given due to the fact that it loses much of its steam during the last 20 minutes. At its heart, it's a buddy comedy set during a bachelor weekend gone wrong, like the much more amusing second cousin of Very Bad Things, with a healthy dose of Old School thrown in. Todd Phillips directs with his usual deft touch, mixing physical comedy with the bizarreness of casting Zack Galifianakis in his breakthrough role. Ed Helms gives Galifianakis a run for his money when it comes to stealing the show, but the much-touted Mike Tyson cameo is a little anti-climactic, though it does serve to show his softer side. There haven't been many better comedies since, making The Hangover still worth watching more than 12 months later. The initially impressive roster of extras on the Blu-Ray falls short, recycling a lot of material from the movie, and can be gone through in next to no time. Only the behind-the-scenes "Map of Destruction" and Picture-In-Picture feature warrant attention, with the latter providing the priceless moment when Zack asks the director and other cast members if they are going to talk through the entire movie. There is absolutely no reason to pick up this more expensive Extreme Edition when the original release is identical, apart from the pointless extras.