The best sequels are those that enhance the story that came before, evolving the characters and situations in a direction that make the continued journey worthwhile. Films such as The Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, etc. understood this. Unfortunately, The Hangover 2 falls more in line with dreck like Speed 2. That is, a film so afraid to deviate from the original that it literally replicates the original film, beat for beat. I actually enjoyed the first film, and if this one came first, I would have enjoyed this one as well. However, it’s almost insulting just how lazy this script is, bringing nothing new to the table while simultaneously highlighting the weaknesses of the first.

This time around, the Wolfpack find themselves in Thailand for Stu’s (Ed Helms) wedding. Wouldn’t you know it, they wake up on the day of the wedding with his fiancee’s little brother missing, and no memory of the night before. Once again, they must piece together their crazy R-Rated evening, find the missing person, and get back in time for the wedding. Along the way, they discover and have to come to terms with their own demons within. Innovative enough the first time, tedious the second.

I went into this film knowing there would be some suspension of disbelief. There’s only so many times people can get themselves into this situation. However, I was willing to go along with it. I could accept the setup if they took the story in a different direction. However, it took me as long as the opening scene to realize that this film was going to follow the EXACT same structure as the first one.

However, if you haven’t seen the first movie, the movie would be pretty entertaining. This is definitely an ensemble movie, with everybody in the Wolfpack getting their moments to shine. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis all appear very comfortable in their roles, and there is a definitive comic rhythm between them. It’s apparent that there was a lot of improvisation on set, which is welcome considering how stale the story itself is. These are very funny characters, and I enjoyed spending time with them again.

Conceptually, it was a great idea taking this group to Thailand. It’s a fascinating location, with a gritty edge providing a terrific contrast to the neon lights of Las Vegas. Like the original was shot in and around Las Vegas, this film was shot on location in Thailand. They could have very easily shot this at a studio, and I have to give them credit for not going that route. The film is beautifully shot, and the location seems to have really inspired the production on a visual level.

Having shot on location, you’d think there would be some in-depth behind-the-scenes footage. Unfortunately, the Blu-Ray is pretty minimal for the most part. While there are a few extras, most of them feel more like filler than genuinely interesting material. The most confusing (and longest) extra is called “Unauthorized Documentary.” Supposedly this is a documentary about a documentary about the film. Or something like that. I admit that I just didn’t get this. It might have been some inside-joke that I’m not a part of, but overall, it was just frustrating. They even got legitimate filmmakers such as Morgan Spurlock and JJ Abrams to take part in this thing. Whatever this was, it was over my head.

The other extras are brief features that don’t really provide a lot of insight into the film. The best one is a brief look at director Todd Phillips’ style of filmmaking. There’s nothing revolutionary here, but it’s the closest this set gets to providing any sort of look into the actual process into making a film such as this. Other features include a look at the monkey from the film, an unbelievably annoying “tour” of Bangkok with “Mr. Chow,” and a completely unfunny gag reel.

This was the first follow-up to one of the most successful R-Rated comedies of all time. There has to be a better release than this. Unfortunately, this is what we got. I definitely wouldn’t recommend the film for the extras. In fact, the only reason I would recommend this release is if you haven’t seen the first film at all. This is still an entertaining story with entertaining characters. It’s just the repetition that kills it.

It’s extraordinary that the filmmakers of the new Winnie the Pooh have been able to replicate the sweetness and humor of the original shorts without succombing to modern-day cynicism. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods, where we find all the original characters, exactly as we saw them last. While the original shorts are beloved by everybody, it still doesn’t seem as if today’s world would be accepting of a film with such innocence, and yet here we are.

There are no pop-culture references and no low-brow humor. Pooh’s actions are still dictated by his stomach (literally at times), Owl is belovedly condescending, Eeyore is charmingly depressed, etc. This feels like a lost film from the past, but with beautiful animation from the present. While there might be some occasional CGI (I really couldn’t tell), the film feels completely handdrawn. There is an elegance to the artwork. The backdrops are painterly, as if lifted from a storybook. The characters have genuine personality. This isn’t the product of a shrill marketing machine, but a genuine love and respect for the characters.

As for the story itself, there are several elements at play. The film details the quest for a replacement for Eeyore’s lost tail, a bold attempt to rescue Christopher Robin from the clutches of an imagined monster, and Pooh’s growing hunger as he can’t find any honey. As these story elements seamlessly weave in and out of each other, I found myself captivated by the sheer simplicity of what I was watching. The humor is derived from basic wordplay and character reactions, which seems almost effortless here.

Much like the original, there are frequent breaks in the fourth wall, as Pooh and friends interact with the storybook from which their tale is being read. Occasionally, the literal text of the story itself becomes part of the plot, significantly advancing the narrative. Even the Narrator (voiced by John Cleese) becomes a sort-of character in the story, not in any story-based way, but by the very nature of his interactions with the characters.

While the film runs barely over an hour (including credits), it doesn’t feel too short. This is a perfect amount of time for these characters and this story. Due to the brief running time, there isn’t a wasted moment to be found. Even the songs are perfectly paced, and completely charming. Zooey Deschanel performs several of them, and her sing-songy voice is perfect for this world. These are songs that children will be singing years from now.

As for the Blu-Ray itself, there are several interesting features. The first one, entitled “Winnie the Pooh and His Story Too” is a brief look back at the history of the chacter. This feature chronicles how we got from AA Milne writing the original story to where we are today. While it’s a short feature, running barely over 8 minutes, there is a lot of information, and definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan.

Other features include several deleted scenes, some of which are alternate versions of scenes in the film, and some of them completely new. One of the more interesting sequences involves a dinner party that Rabbit throws for his “friends and relations” that is hilarious just for Pooh’s reaction to the outcome. I can see why it was cut, as it would have served no purpose in the greater story, and would have felt out of place. However, as a stand-alone sequence, it is very entertaining.

There’s also a Sing-Along mode for the film, perfect for the many catchy songs, and a way of jumping directly to a few key songs. There are also two short films, one new and one old. The old film is “Pooh’s Balloon,” the famous short from the fifties where Pooh disguises himself as a raincloud to steal honey. The other short is called “The Ballad of Nessie,” and is a whimsical depiction of how the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, ended up in the Loch to begin with. It’s a cute little film, with fun narration and animation, but wasn’t anything truly remarkable.

Overall, this is a fantastic set and a great addition to any familie’s collection. This film proves just how timeless these characters are. If you’ve ever enjoyed Winnie the Pooh in any form, you owe it to yourself to see this film. It doesn’t happen often, but every now and again, a filmmaker will craft a film based on pre-existing characters that will be as good as the original. Believe it or not, Winnie the Pooh is such a film.