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Kim Hollis: I don't think we really have to work too hard to get at this answer. People who liked the first movie wanted to see the second movie. That first film did very well in theaters, and only grew in popularity once it hit home video. While it's still possible to get the gang back together, the studio needed to strike while the iron was hot and they timed it perfectly. I think that the original Hangover is a bit overrated, but it's very obvious I am in the minority there.

David Mumpower: We touched upon this somewhat in the Bridesmaids discussion a couple of weeks ago. What we are witnessing with the exploding popularity of these films is that consumers want to live vicariously through the actions of others. This was something we previously discussed when The Hangover debuted to a slew of stunned critics in 2009. The genius of the concept is that every urban legend about bachelor parties can be explored in a manner that is ripe with the potential for hilarity. The first film *ahem* had better luck in this regard than the second. Still, the second one has been warmly received as good enough, which is all that was needed here. I expect the debate we'll be having in 2013 is whether the quality of the second film negatively impacted the performance of its successor as we have witnessed recently with Little Fockers, but nobody involved with The Hangover Part II cares about that right now. This film will probably become the most successful domestic comedy performer of all time (not adjusting for inflation). That's a staggering triumph.

Critics have no sense of humor.

Kim Hollis: Of the films to open to at least $80 million, The Hangover Part II represents one of the greatest divides between critical reception and box office opening in the modern era. Its 22% fresh rating among Rotten Tomatoes Top Critics is the second lowest on record for a debut of at least $86 million. Only Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is more despised. Oddly, the next lowest number after The Hangover's 22% is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' 31%. Why do you think audiences are ignoring critics so much this month?

Joshua Pasch: I don't think its that they're ignoring critics more or less than usual - these last two weeks have had two features that personify critic-proof to the fullest. Pirates is a four-quadrant entry into one of the most popular franchises of all time. If anything you could say its opening was actually hampered a bit by its critical reception and that some moviegoers were convinced to stay away.

I'd liken the Hangover Part II's opening to the second Pirates film in that neither were well received critically but critics never stood a chance in deterring ticket buyers who wanted to hangout with Captain Jack Sparrow and the Wolfpack respectively. Those characters simply had to much appeal and too much pull to be denied.

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