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By Michael Lopez

It's doubtful that any negative review of The Hangover Part II will turn off die-hard "Wolfpack" fans. People who loved the first movie will definitely find themselves rolling over with laughter at Part II's over-the-top Bangkok storyline. But, if you're looking for something totally new and original, this film doesn't quite live up to the hype.

Admittedly, The Hangover seems like a tough movie to repeat. Based on the antics of three buddies who take their Vegas partying too far, there could be several different ways to approach Part II. Do you follow the guys' lives after their Sin City trip? Do you send new characters off on another bachelor party? Or do you just replicate all of the elements from the original film? For this sequel, they've chosen the latter.

Copying the exact same formula of The Hangover, director and co-screenwriter Todd Phillips has brought back the entire principal cast and transported them to Thailand. But, seeing how Part I is now the highest-grossing R-Rated comedy of all time, it's hard to blame him. Plus, it's abundantly clear from other popular franchises that rehashed story-lines equal big box office bucks.

The only issue here is how closely the two films resemble each other. Sure the three main characters of Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are now trapped in Bangkok instead of Vegas, but that can't erase the "been there, done that" feeling that encompasses this movie. Part I had a baby, Part II has an old man. Part I had a tiger, Part II has a monkey…you get the drift.

Granted, if you were one of the few people who didn't see the original movie, then we highly recommend Hangover II. Its detective comedy elements are fun to piece together and there is actually more high-powered action in the sequel than there was in Part I. Plus, the filmmakers did a great job capturing the exotic beauty of Thailand.

But, if you caught the first Hangover back in 2008 (as many of us did), you may find yourself utterly disappointed. Even the mystery elements of the missing Wolfpack member (this time the little brother of Stu's wife-to-be) seem like a carbon copy. Yes there are a handful of laughs, particularly a LMFAO Mike Tyson cameo, but not quite enough to warrant a full-priced movie ticket.

Bottom line: Though The Hangover Part II has its moments, it feels way too similar to the original film. Say what you will about Stranger Tides, at least they sent Jack Sparrow on a brand new adventure. Here the guys are making the exact same mistakes and acting none the wiser. But, if you can hang in there until the bitter end, there is another great R-Rated photo montage that "almost" makes up for it.

Are you planning on watching The Hangover Part II? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Mike Tyson, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, The Hangover 2, The Hangover Part II, The Wolfpack, Todd Phillips, Zach Galifianakis

By Michael Lopez

It's that time of the year again. The time when students across the country don those caps and gowns and prepare for their "next big journey." But before the 2011 grads step out into the real world, they'll get one last bit of wisdom from their university's commencement speaker. And this year, several colleges are booking some A-list talent to step up to the podium.

As expected, most of the top schools get their speeches from world dignitaries and trusted scholars. But one huge political leader is taking an entirely different route. President Barack Obama gave his commencement speeches to graduating students at Miami-Dade College and Tennessee's Booker T. Washington High School. Centered in one of the poorest districts in the country, the latter campus won the honor to hear Obama after participating in a Race to the Top competition.

Ex-Commander-In-Chief Bill Clinton spoke to a slightly larger crowd for his NYU address. Talking to a packed house at New York's Yankee Stadium, the former President drew massive cheers when he stepped onto the field in his purple gown.

Adding some Latin flair to the commencement world, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made an impassioned speech at New Jersey's Ramapo College. Dressed in a black gown, the 56-year-old trailblazer spoke for nearly 20 minutes about the importance of following your dreams.

"I have lived all my dreams and, more incredibly, have far surpassed them," she said. "Dreams do not come true simply because of luck or innate talent. They only come true if you work hard to make them come true."

Interestingly, Sotomayor had some personal reasons for speaking at Ramapo. Her godson, Tommy Butler Jr., was part of the graduating class, having earned his master's degree in nursing.

Another Latino leader, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is set to say some very inspirational words to the parting students at Stanford University. A graduate from Harvard, Calderon's speech is expected to draw a flurry of activity. So much so, that the faculty is planning to stream it live.

But don't think it's just the political elite that are getting the Class of 2011 worked up. Several celebs are offering their unique perspectives to the new graduates as well. Comedienne Amy Poehler will be speaking at Harvard on Wednesday and earlier in the week, Tom Hanks drew big cheers for his address at Yale.

And all of you Team Coco fans may want to check YouTube for bootlegs on June 12. That’s the day when comedian Conan O’Brien takes the mic at the Dartmouth graduation and we’re sure it will be very quotable.

Which celeb would you most like to hear a commencement speech from? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Poehler, Barack Obama, bill clinton, Celebrities, Class of 2011, College, Conan O'Brien, Education, Felipe Calderon, Graduation, Sonia Sotomayor, Tom Hanks

By Michael Lopez

There is no doubt that Memorial Day weekend will bring some heavy hitters at the box office. In one corner, you've got the R-Rated debauchery of The Hangover Part II. But for all the younger moviegoers, it's all about the Furious Five from Kung Fu Panda 2! This week, Spanish animator Alberto Corral sat down exclusively with Tr3s to talk about the hard work that went into bringing Master Po back to life.

Hailing from Spain, Alberto has been a DreamWorks animator for over two years. His first project for the company was last summer's smash, Shrek Forever After, but that pales in comparison to the excitement he has for Kung Fu Panda 2.

"I was a huge fan of the first movie," Alberto explained. "Having the opportunity to work on Part 2 was great. It was a dream come true! Believe it or not, this movie took four years to make."

Corral's role for Kung Fu 2 involved creating intricate martial arts battles between key characters. His job required him to animate not just pandas, but rabbits, snakes, crocodiles, and more.

"I did a lot of crowd scenes for the movie. Whenever there were a bunch of people in the city or in the fight scenes, that's probably one of my animations. I worked on sheep, rabbits, and everything in between."

One character that held a special place for Corral was the villainous Croc Master. Not so much for the green slimy scales, but for the celebrity voice that was behind it.

"Jean-Claude Van Damme is the Croc Master in the movie. I’m really a big fan of his movies and of kung fu movies in general. I really didn't have to do a lot of research preparing for this film."

Alberto went on to explain the differences between working on Kung Fu Panda 2 and the most recent Shrek movie. For one thing, animating green ogres requires more of a human touch, while creating furry black belts resembles more of the classic style of cartooning (à la Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck). A self-professed Disney fan, Corral loved the opportunity to create more fluid characters and even dropped in hints of Japanese anime.

"I loved the Disney classics and I love anime,"Alberto explained. "I think one of the keys to succeeding in animation is not watching one thing or one style. Japanese animation is so different from American animation. And if you learn both, you can bring in the best of both worlds."

From just the trailer scenes alone, it's clear that Kung Fu Panda 2 follows that mold flawlessly. You can catch all of Alberto's handiwork in action, when Po and company kick off their next adventure this Friday!

Are you planning on watching Kung Fu Panda 2 this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alberto Corral, Dreamworks, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Jean-Claude Van Damme, kung fu panda, Movies & CineMás, Shrek Forever After, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

We all know that Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is the queen of the twitpic. It seems like every other day, the Jersey Shore star is snapping a shot of herself and tweeting about it. In fact, one of Snook's most famous pictures showcased her dramatic new figure. But now a new shot has stirred up some controversy about her weight loss, particularly since it features a bottle of Zantrex diet pills.

Originally, Snooki had tweeted that healthier meals and a personal trainer contributed to her slimdown; but now it's looking like that may not be the case. The signature pink Zantrex bottle is clearly visible in her latest twitpic and it seems like our favorite Guidette has even decided to tweet about it.

"Tons of good food here!" she posted. "Continuing my workouts and does anyone know where I can find some Zantrex fat burner in Italy? I am running out!"

Known as a dietary supplement, Zantrex is somewhat controversial within the fitness community. Many of the healthier weight loss programs advocate light meals and exercise as a way to stay toned and consider taking pills "cheating." Not that it seems to bother Snooki all that much.

Do you think diet pills are an unhealthy way to lose weight? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Chisme, Jersey Shore, Snooki, twitter, weight loss, Zantrex

By Michael Lopez

Ever since the surprise breakup of William Levy and Elizabeth Gutierrez, speculations have run wild about mistresses that may have torn the two apart. First stories popped up that Levy was romancing the 19-year-old daughter of a novelas producer. And now, it seems that the paparazzi have snapped Willie and Mexican actress and singer Mariana Seoane in a very compromising pose!

For all we know, Levy could be hooking up with both women. But it's clear that something big must have gone down for Elizabeth to walk away from the father of her two kids. Guanabee’s original theory stemmed around Barbara Lopez, the teenage daughter of a powerful Mexican TV exec. They claim that footage exists of her and William, which may get sold and broadcast on the web.

It all makes for great chisme, but still has yet to be proven. Levy and Mariana however, were caught on camera and the pics are now being plastered all over the web. William and Seoane were snapped groping each other outside of a restaurant, which (as expected) has created a media firestorm.

As of right now, no one from the Levy camp has spoken up about the scandal. William's grandmother claims to know nothing about the breakup and his siblings are staying quiet. But something tells us that Elizabeth knows a lot more than she's saying and could be dropping big bombshells in the very near future.

What do you think was behind William and Elizabeth's breakup? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barbara Lopez, Celebrity Divorce, Chisme, Elizabeth Gutierrez, Hot Stuff, Mariana Seoane, William Levy

By Michael Lopez

As we've said before, expect to see a lot more of Mildred Baena in the coming weeks. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Guatemalan baby mama has been featured on TMZ, Radar Online, and now the late-night talk show Lopez Tonight. Of course, it wasn't the real Mildred who appeared for an "exclusive" satellite interview, but rather host George Lopez dressed up in drag!

Donning a blonde wig and the same pink-and-white outfit made famous by that first Baena picture, George offered a hilarious Q & A with himself regarding the recent Schwarzenegger scandal. The faux Mildred called Lopez "handsome" and threw out some ridiculous flirts.

"Are you looking for a girlfriend? Housekeeper maybe?" "Mildred" asked.

The character then went off on several jags about the secret love child Arnold fathered.

"There's a 10-year-old in Bakersfield who can bench 450 pounds … and he's very gropy," Lopez' Baena went on to say.

The skit ended with a roar of laughter from the audience and got George quite a bit of traction from the morning's comedy bloggers. Who knows? Maybe if the skit keeps fans excited, Lopez can bring "Mildred" out on his upcoming live comedy tour.

What did you think of George's Baena impression? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chisme, George Lopez, Hot Stuff, Lopez Tonight, Mildred Baena, Mildred Patricia Baena, Scandals, Television

By Michael Lopez

It looks like Tr3s fave Rosario Dawson has officially joined the "Single Ladies" club again. After being in a committed relationship with French DJ Mathieu Schreyer for nearly three years, Us Weekly is reporting that the Unstoppable star has put herself back on the market.

Last spotted at an L.A. Prince concert on April 23, Rosario and Mathieu seemed very happy dancing to classics like "Kiss" and "Little Red Corvette." But within the past month, something seems to have spurned a split. Interestingly, insiders are claiming that it was Dawson who did the dumping.

"She broke up with him," an anonymous source told Us. "She was the one who ended it."

Though the reasons for the breakup remain unclear, some are putting the blame on their busy work schedules. Recently Rosario has been tied up in Boston, filming the summer movie, The Zookeeper, with Kevin James. And Schreyer's bookings have him constantly spinning turntables all over Europe.

But don't feel too sad for the A-List Latina. Judging by Rosario’s long list of past celebrity boyfriends, we doubt she'll have a hard time finding her next Mr. Right.

Who do you think would be a good match for Rosario? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Breakups, Celebrities, Chisme, Mathieu Schreyer, Rosario Dawson, The Zookeeper

By Michael Lopez

We're not even in June yet, but the list of Latina bikini bods just keeps on growing. Sure Christina Milian and Demi Lovato looked great in their summer swimsuits, but Gaby Espino's toned physique may have them all beat!

Gracing a teeny weeny pink bikini on the cover of this month’s Cosmopolitan, it’s hard to believe that Gaby's a 34-year-old mom. And unlike other stars who seem to get way too much help from Photoshop, Espino’s tight stomach and wrinkle-free smile are clearly 100% natural.

Inside the latest Cosmo issue, Gaby divulges a few secrets about how she manages to stay so fit. She credits her trainer Richard Linares and buddy Alejandro Chabán, who encouraged her to get back on the regimen after the 2009 birth of her daughter Oriana.

"Gaby bajó casi 75 libras después de tener a su bebé, y muchas veces intentaba tirar la toalla y allí estaba yo como motivador y hermano para decirle DALE QUE SI SE PUEDE", Chabán explained.

It's clear that Espino has a great support system in place. And we can think of one new member of "Team Gaby" who may be joining her on the beach this summer.

What do you think of Gaby’s bikini bod? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alejandro Chabán, Bikinis, Celebrities, Cosmo, Cosmopolitan, Gaby Espino, Hot Stuff

By Vanessa Beatriz Soto

So you saw the awesome Billboard Music Awards, right? Did you catch the duet between Rihanna and Britney Spears? Well you didn't see all of it. Apparently we we missed a little kiss!

For those of us at home, the telecast started with a red-hot bang (and I'm not talking about Rihanna's hair here) on Sunday night when Ri-Ri hit the stage to perform her sadomasochist smash hit "S&M" amid an array of grasping hands (...those dancers must have felt like big dorks sitting under that dais hand-dancing, you know?) and riding crops. Oh la la.

Just when the audience thought things couldn't get any hotter, the Princess of Pop herself, Britney Spears, taking a page from Donnie Darko's rabbit pal in some freaky bunny ears, made a surprise guest appearance.

Brit and Ri seemed to be having a really good time, working the rather risque song for all it was worth. They twirled on poles, straddled stools, and even engaged in a little pillow-fighting. As the song came to an end, the pretty pair, Ri in white and Brit in black, leaned against each other, smiling big for the cheering audience. Rihanna turned to face Britney, the cameras cut to the crowd, then back to the girls, getting ready to head into the wings. Nothing happened, right?

Well, people who were in the live audience had different view of the pair onstage and they tell us the girls shared a little smoochie during that split second cut. I say 'little smoochie' because for one thing the cameras only cut away for a second, and for another thing because this was not even a Madonna-and-Britney peck on the lips, just a friendly kiss.

Or was it? I don't know, and we can't find any video of the moment anyplace!

We live in a strange world. Cynical con-men bilk millions from the credulous faithful with tales of impending doom, but are not punished. Entitled ego-mad starlets walk away from the scenes of drunk-driving accidents, then pummel their arresting officers (we're looking at YOU, Estella Warren!) Celebrity infant Justin Bieber and his celebrity toddler/cougar girlfriend Selena Gomez host oceanfront PDA sessions for the paparazzi, making fine fodder for gossip writers like yours truly. But same-sex pop singers (clad in leather harnesses whilst pillow-fighting on stripper poles) KISSING? Oh no no. ABC WILL NOT LET YOU SEE!

So let me ask you this: have girl-on-girl music awards show kisses jumped the shark?

Should women who kiss other women for attention just know better? Is a perfectly legal same-sex smooch more shocking or inappropriate for a TV audience than the lyrics and S&M theme of Rihanna's song, particularly in light of her violent relationship with Chris Brown? I want to know what you think about all this!

Tags 2011 Billboard Music Awards, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Kiss, Madonna, Rihanna

By Michael Lopez

Juanes' Twitter followers breathed a sigh of relief this morning when he "officially" denied rumors about his retirement. Since apparently parting with his longtime manager and cancelling several concerts, many began wondering if the Colombian rocker was planning to walk away from music for good.

"Claro que no me retiro de la música , eso jamás. Solo he decidido hacer un pequeño STOP para dedicar tiempo a mi familia y a mi," Juanes posted earlier today.

Unfortunately, that didn't completely heal the wounds felt by his fans in south Florida. Within the past few months, El Rockero cancelled three big shows in Miami for reasons that weren't entirely clear. With little touring to support his recent P.A.R.C.E. album, many began wondering if Juanes was looking to hang up his guitar for good.

And actually, it's not that far-fetched of a thought. Back in 2006, Juanes stepped away from the concert stage for a year and, in 2009, he announced another 12-month "retirement." But this time out, he assured fans that the summer concerts will continue, including some massive July shows overseas.

"Solo se cancelaron tres conciertos en USA, en España estaremos con toda la energía en julio!" he tweeted.

And though we won't be able to see Juanes wail out hits like "Y No Regresas" in person this summer, we can always turn on his classic La Vida live album for support.

What do you think of Juanes' decision? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Chisme, Juanes, Música, P.A.R.C.E., Retirement Rumors, twitter