'The Hangover'remedy: How Zach Galifianakis guards his funny bone

Meteoric fame, the kind that comes with the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time, brings its own type of hangover. Ever since 2009's"The Hangover,"Zach Galifianakishas had a little more trouble navigating the streets ofBrooklyn, where he lives part-time during filming of the third season of hisHBOshow,"Bored to Death."

"What I do is walk with headphones on, hoping people get the hint,"Galifianakis tells The News."People are generally very, very nice ... it's when people sit down at a restaurant with you. They think they can just sit down and chat with you and go,‘Remember the time?'

"Yeah, I remember the time, I was in the g—damn movie,"he deadpans.

He'll have to get used to even more attention with his next damn movie,"The Hangover Part II,"opening Friday.

The film reunites co-stars Galifianakis,Bradley CooperandEd Helms, directorTodd Phillipsand the premise that rocketed the first"Hangover"to $474 million worldwide at the box office. Once again, the three bumbling friends wake up in a trashed hotel room just before a friend's wedding, missing one of their group, with no memory of the debauchery that put them in their predicament.

This time, however, they have to navigate the humid and seedy streets ofBangkok, which ratchets up both the stakes and the humor. Think drug-dealing monkeys and hermaphrodite hookers.

"Bangkok the city itself helped us with our perspiration and helped us with the way that we looked awful,"says Galifianakis."The great thing about the‘Hangover' movies is that you don't have to take care of yourself while you're shooting. It's better if you don't."

The Bangkok set was 8,560 miles and a world away fromNew York City, where Galifianakis arrived fromNorth Carolina16 years ago.

Interested in standup comedy, he got his first gig— all three minutes of it — in the back of Hamburger Harry's inTimes Square. Recounting his first joke, he warns that it's not exactly comedy gold:"I was with this girl the other night and we ended up at her house and she said,‘Hey look, you can crash on my futon.' And I looked at her and I said, ‘I don't sleep on anything that rhymes with crouton.'

"I think I heard a cough and a fork drop at the same time,"he says."Silence. But after that night, I remember thinking to myself— not to be too dramatic, but I do remember — ‘This is the path I'm going to take.'"

That path included the walk between his"triple illegal sublet"on Ludlow St. in theEast Villageup to Standup NY, a comedy club on 78th and Broadway, to save on subway fare.

That path also included horrific jobs to support his passion. He toiled as a busboy at a strip club and worked atWebster Hall, where"I crawled on my hands and knees on the floor and picked up beer bottles."Part of him still misses those days, Galifianakis says with a delivery that makes it hard to tell if he's joking.

Over the decade and a half before"The Hangover,"he flirted with success: recurring roles on television series like"Boston Common"and"Tru Calling,"a short-lived talk show onVH1, short scene-stealing bits in a handful of movies.

Long before many people could spell Galifianakis, the comedian was on Phillips' radar after the New York-born director caught a show inLos Angeles. Phillips was casting the role in his first major movie, 2000's"Road Trip,"that ultimately went toTom Green, but came close to hiring Galifianakis instead.

What appealed to Phillips, who has collaborated with Galifianakis on his last three movies, including 2010's"Due Date,"even then?

"He has the most innocent, gentle eyes, so he's able to play those characters that can say or do anything and {you realize}‘Oh, he didn't really mean it like that,'"says Phillips.

For example, one of Galifianakis' quips from the first"Hangover"could have gone awry without the right delivery."Like when he says,‘I'm not supposed to be within 200 feet of a school. Or aChuck E. Cheese,' they know he's not a molester,"says Phillips,"they know he just likes to hang out."

That's true of the real Galifianakis too: He likes to hang out. Hollywood success afforded him the chance to purchase a farm in North Carolina, but he'd still rather walk across theBrooklyn Bridgethan be chauffeured to the other side.

He also worries he'll get soft if he doesn't get on stage in front of a live audience more often.

"As a comedian to have that recognition almost is anti-comedy to me,"he says."We're not supposed to be the ones who get that kind of attention, so I'm a little bit sensitive about it. I don't want to soil what brought me there in the first place."

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'Cost of a Soul': Low-budget drama has a gutsy handle

Two veterans become embroiled with violence back home (1:30). R: Violence, language. At the AMC Empire 25 andMagic JohnsonHarlem9.

This low-budget drama has a gutsy handle on what makes a crime drama crackle. Queens native Will Blagrove plays DD, a returningIraqvet having difficulties reconnecting with his mother and friends, and having even more trouble with his brothers. One has risen to neighborhood overlord, the other is slipping into a life of crime and drugs.

Meanwhile, Tommy (Chris Kerson), also back from battle, argues with his wife and introduces himself to the daughter born just after he left. After Tommy gets in debt to a thuggish crime boss (Greg Almquist), decisions are made that make the home front dangerous.

Kerson and Blagrove are intense, and veteran character actor Almquist turns in a Scorsese-quality turn as a corrosive, scowling SOB with fire in his eyes. Writer-director Sean Kirkpatrick's movie won anAMC Theatersindependent film contest, and though it's rough around the edges, it is also, undeniably, a nervy, confident debut.

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'Titanic'will return to theaters in 2012 to commemorate the 100th anniverary of the tragedy

Their hearts will go on, again.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's setting sail, it was announced Thursday that directorJames Cameron's epic blockbuster"Titanic"will be docking in theaters again on April 6, 2012.

The 1997 film, which madeLeonardo DiCaprioan international heartthrob, nabbedKate Winslether first Best ActressAcademy Awardnomination and was the top-grossing movie of all time until Cameron's"Avatar"cruised into that spot over a decade later.

This time, though, the Oscar-winning special effects– the film garnered a total of 11 Academy Awards – will be presented in 3-D for the first time.

"There's a whole generation that's never seen 'Titanic' as it was meant to be seen, on the big screen.” Cameron said in a statement."And���converted to 3D … with the emotional power intact and the images more powerful than ever, this will be an epic experience for fans and newcomers alike."

Early on the morning of April 15, 1912, theRMS Titanicsunk in the Atlantic, killing 1,517 passengers and crew.

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'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'review: Overstuffed and underwhelming

Even a maverick has to pay the bills, right? WhileJohnny Depphas built himself an admirably eclectic resume, a villa in the South ofFrancedoesn't run itself. Which means, presumably, that he can't take risks like"Rango"unless he occasionally pads his bank account with yet another overstuffed, underwhelming"Pirates of the Caribbean"sequel.

Perhaps directorGore Verbinskihas a smaller mortgage, as he wisely walked away after his third attempt. (Or maybe he just knew"Rango,"which he also made, would turn out well.)

The new captain isRob Marshall, who scrapes off a few of the barnacles that clung to the last effort. But he can't avoid the feeling that this adventure has run aground.

WithOrlando BloomandKeira Knightleyalso gone, Penélope Cruz has stepped in as Angelica, the daughter of Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Together, they're on a search for the legendary fountain of youth. But they'd better move quickly: a British team led by Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) plans to get there first.

Angelica assembles a crew by posing as her former beau—a certainJack Sparrow. The real Sparrow (Depp) is characteristically bemused by this impersonation, until he figures out how to turn it to his advantage. Soon he's hopped aboard Blackbeard's ship, determined to beat everyone else to immortality.

Cruz makes a fine foil for Depp; her spirited presence brings a much-needed second (fourth?) wind to these familiar proceedings. But she can't carry a movie alone, and everyone else—Depp included—seems to be nearly tapped out. There's one great scene in which the sailors meet some unexpectedly dangerous mermaids, but it only  highlights what's missing most of the time.

Meanwhile, even those inclined to be generous may suspect they're being duped when they put on their plastic glasses. Making a frustratingly dark movie even muddier, the 3D andImaxoptions enhance nothing but the price of a ticket.

There was a time when Captain Jack was as wonderfully unpredictable as Depp's other iconic characters. But despite Sparrow's ongoing flashes of charm, Depp himself seems to know he's coasting. No matter how much treasure this excursion turns up, he's clearly more inspired by uncharted territory.

Don't Miss: Keep your eyes open for a surprising cameo at the start--you'll never guess who Sparrow seduces during his first escape.

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'Priest'review: Church-vs-vampire adventure is worth sinking your teeth into

A specially-trained priest battles vampires in a postapocalyptic landscape. WithPaul Bettany,Cam Gigandet,Karl Urban. Director:Scott Charles Stewart. (1:27) PG-13: Violence. At area theaters.

It appears that turning theJohn Ford/John Wayneclassic"The Searchers"into the church-vs-vampire adventure"Priest"was not an altogether god-awful idea. As long as we don't get"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"as an elegiac zombie drama, this adaptation of a graphic novel has some bite.

Mixing about four different genres into its first few minutes,"Priest"settles down into a postapocalyptic world rebuilding after a war with vampires, during which the most effective soldiers on the side of mankind were specially-chosen and trained priests. In the crowded, industrial-grade cities, the church controls all aspects of life, though it's a real absentee landlord, and its lead monsignor (Christopher Plummer) is a corrupt autocrat.

Outside the cities, there's a familiar movie-movie wasteland– it's the landscape Mad Max roamed, or whereCharlton Hestonfought intelligent Apes, or whereDenzel Washingtonbattled evil in"The Book of Eli"– and a young homesteader girl (Lily Collins) has been kidnapped by a roving band of vampires and their half-vamp servants, led by a fiend (Karl Urban, Dr. McCoy in the rebooted"Star Trek") with a black hat and aClint Eastwoodrasp.

The girl is the niece of a priest (Paul Bettany) who, like his fellow vamp-hunters of the cloth, has been relegated to outcast status. When he goes in search of her, he finds the girl's lawman-boyfriend (Can Gigandet), and the two go off to save her, aided by a priestess (Maggie Q) and a smock full of tiny killer crucifixes.

Director Scott Charles Stewart, who directed the similar Bettany-starrer"Legion,"doesn't hide the"Searchers"homages, so much so that they stop being a stake in cinephile's hearts and begin to become fun. A former visual effects guy, Stewart also makes sure his vampires have a distinctive look; they're like angry, speechless, fanged slugworms with slimy bear bodies. Their minions resembleUncle Fester, and, like the vamps, they have a shimmery sheen to their white skin.

Bettany does the monosyllabic stranger bit well, and Gigandet apparently studiedJeffrey Hunter's male ingénue in"The Searchers"so well that when he learns a secret about the girl and the priest, he barely registers emotion. No matter; if you come to"Priest"for emotion, or for a serious dissection of God-versus-the Church ideas, you've arrived at the wrong movie. If, however, you're looking for a diverting sci-fi actioner that handily mixes the DNA of several different movies, with a few flying crosses thrown in and a heavy dose of Western mythology, sink your teeth in.

Don't Miss:  An all-round rousing fight atop a moving train transport. In a movie full of Western film clichés, this is one it manages to make extra-exciting.

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Jennifer Aniston sexes up the'Horrible Bosses'trailer: Actress wears lingerie, eats banana

Jennifer Anistonmay be a"Horrible Boss"in her new movie, but she looks good doing it.

The brown-wigged actress strips down to lingerie and seductively eats a popsicle, banana and hot dog in newly released trailer for"Horrible Bosses."

The comedy starsJason Bateman,Jason SudeikisandCharlie Dayas three friends who want to knock off their cruel employers.

The horrible bosses? A sexual-harrassing dentist (Aniston), a scummy white-collar boss (Kevin Spacey) and a drug-addicted heartless jerk (Colin Farrellin a balding wig!).

In one scene shown in the trailer, Aniston purposely sprays her assistant's (played by Day) pants in the crotch area so she can see if he's circumsized. Later, she drugs him and takes sexy photos with him, which she then shows to his fiancee.

And that's just the dirty antics that can be shown in the trailer.

"There's a whole bunch of things {Aniston} does that couldn't be put in this trailer. Stuff you won’t believe,"directorSeth GordontellsEntertainment Weekly."It's really exciting to see her do something a bit further… afield, if you will."

Bateman's boss (Spacey) convinces him to take a drink of scotch at 8am -- and then later accuses him of having an alcohol problem in front of the entire office.

Farrell makes his employee (Sudeikis) fire all the"fat people"in the office, as well as a wheelchair-bound man.

"Horrible Bosses"hits theaters July 8.

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New York has more than a petit presence at this year's Cannes Film Festival

New Yorkhas more than a petit presence at this year'sCannes Film Festival. On Wednesday, son ofBrooklynWoody Allenpremiered his latest romantic comedy,"Midnight in Paris,"starringOwen WilsonandRachel McAdams, while the jury for the 64th annual South ofFrancecompetition is headed byLittle Italy-bredRobert De Niro.

Despite critical and audience raves for his movie, Allen, 75, was his usual nebbishy self, even after 43 feature films.

"I consider myself a hugely lucky filmmaker,"Allen said at the film's opening press conference."I've never considered myself an artist. I've aspired to be one, but I've never felt that I have the depth or substance or the gift to be an artist."

As for his Cannes appearance, Allen said"Midnight in Paris"— the latest of his films to be set abroad — is as much about his love of movies as it is about the City of Light.

"I learned aboutParisthe way all Americans do— from the movies,"he said, then compared it to his hometown."It's the same {as the}New York CityI've shown people around the world, in movies like‘Manhattan.' I don't see {that kind of New York} around me. It's one I recognize from the movies. Same with Paris."

At the opening-night party, jazz renditions of"Empire Stateof Mind"and"New York, New York"were played for guests including New Yorker/Cannes jury memberUma Thurman.

Other films screening during the 10-day-long fest includeTerrence Malick's drama"The Tree of Life,"starringBrad PittandSean Penn; the school-shooting drama"We Need to Talk About Kevin,"withTilda Swinton; the comedy"We Have a Pope,"which sounds a little like"The Sopranos"set inVatican City; and new films from the Dardenne brothers,Pedro Almodovar,Lars von Trier,Gus Van Sant,Takashi MiikeandNanni Moretti.

Mainstream flicks are represented by"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,"the fourth trip forJohnny Depp'sCapt. Jack Sparrow(opening in theaters next Friday), and"Kung Fu Panda 2,"withJack Blackagain voicing Po, which screened for press."KFP2"opens May 26.

The fest wraps on May 22. For continuing Cannes coverage, go to NYDailyNews.com.

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