Movie Review
The Hangover could've been more outrageous
Jun. 06, 2009 - by Syd Slobodnik – buzz Writer
Watching Todd Phillips’s The Hangover, and having only seen parts of his other films, like Road Trip, Starsky and Hutch and Old School, I had expectations of a more outrageous, in-your-face crude comedy. The Hangover actually contains a fine quartet of comedic leads and a raucous comic premise that doesn’t quite live up to its set up.
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha play buddies Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug (the groom) who’re off to Vegas for a bachelors’ party in Las Vegas. Even the bride’s father, played by Jeffrey Tambor, gives the guys his blessings sending them off in his near mink silver Mercedes, saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”.
On their first night the guys get a $4,200/a night suite in Caesar’s Palace and have a private, rooftop toast to rollicking good times making a prediction for a “night we’ll never forget”. Fade to the next morning: each is completely shit-faced and cannot remember a thing. A chicken walks near the kitchen, a baby is sitting in the closet, and one guy enters the bathroom to discover a live Bengal tiger. But where’s the groom? Doug has disappeared, and they have to find him and get him back in time for his wedding.
As the guys try piecing together their last 12-16 hours, they quickly discover one has been to the hospital for a concussion, another has gotten married to a stripper (Heather Graham), they’ve borrowed the tiger from a famous ex-boxer and they’ve stolen a police car. The baby, tiger and the chicken should have provided plenty of riotous situations that somehow the film quickly defuses.
Phillips’ mostly crude humor and comic pacing keeps the audience in stitches and the chemistry among Cooper, Helms and Galifiankis is especially effective. In fact, Helms nearly steals the show as the nerdy Dr. Stu Price, who is constantly living in fear of his oppressive girlfriend Melissa discovering their antics. For better or worse, somehow screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore seem more focused on having the guys simply search for the groom, and avoiding an Asian gangster than exploiting more of the endless possibilities of Vegas gambling, show gals, and other boys’-night-out carnal entertainments.
2 1/2 Stars
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says:
I think the review is way-off base. That's the beauty behind this comedy is that it doesn't follow the normal stereotypes of Las Vegas like gambling and women. The baby does a perfect job because it gives classic one-liners. "What's the boy's name?" "ughh..Carlos". "Did you hear that? His name is Tyler..." "I thought he was a Carlos too".
This movie is hilarious. I can't believe you missed out on all the good humor. Many of my friends, including myself, have or will see this movie in theaters multiple times. It's too funny.
Jeff Brandt says:
Huh. I thought this movie was absolutely brilliant -- best comedy in years -- and smart for avoiding the gambling angle that has been overdone at this point. So many good lines . . .