The Hangover (2009)

The Hangover (2009)

Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore

Directed by Todd Phillips

            Here’s a movie that I think really took everybody by surprise this summer.  It came out of left field and it really delivered on all the levels that the other films failed too.  It was mysterious, dramatic, adventurous, hilarious, and had Mike Tyson in it.  Really, what more could you want from a movie?

            I think by this point everybody and their mother has seen The Hangover (literally – my girlfriend’s conservative mother took her 13, 15, and 16 year-old kids to see it), so I’m pretty sure everybody knows what it’s about, but for those not initiated, here’s how it goes: 4 guys go to Vegas for a bachelor’s party.  It’s really that simple.  The story is not told sequentially.  They arrive in Vegas, we see their first shots, and then they wake up the next afternooon with no recollection of what happened.  What really draws you in are the characters.

What I really liked about this was how each character was drastically different.  What more can be said about Zach Galifianakis’ Alan?  The man is an enigma, and I believe his beard should be nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama when it comes time for Oscars.  He really is fantastic and hilarious here.  Is he a retard or is he just really weird?  Who knows?!  More importantly, who cares?  Every line is delivered with the strength of the seasoned stand-up comic that he is.  Ed Helms’ Stu was excellent as well.  While I have been enjoying him for three seasons as Andy on The Office, the rest of the world has had no idea how truly gut-wrenchingly hilarious he truly is – until now.  He really does well playing the lapdog to his girlfriend Melissa’s (The Daily Show’s Rachel Harris) evil witch of a woman.  Also doing really well was Justin Bartha as Doug.  I thought he was hilarious in both Gigli and the first National Treasure movie (yes I saw both of them, and no, I’m not ashamed.  I was one of the few people to actually enjoy the former flick), and he was pretty good here, despite extremely limited screentime.  Of course, rounding out the primary cast is Bradley Cooper as Phil.  Now, I know people are going to hate me for saying this, but I’m not the biggest fan of Bradley Cooper.  He plays his usual here – the dick, and he does it well.  But it doesn’t take much to act like a dick.  Just ask 75% of the male population of New York.  They do it without trying.  I understand his appeal.  He’s suave, sexy, funny, charming.  I just don’t really like the character, and Cooper doesn’t seem to know how to get away from it.  What I can say in his defense is that he’s pretty funny in this, with some good one liners and zingers.  Also, I really liked the way that his character not just put up with Alan’s weirdness, but really helped him when he needed it.  If you want to see Cooper in a really great dramatic role, check out Midnight Meat Train, which despite sounding like a really demographically specific porn title, is a a really taut thriller.  Heather Graham rounds out the cast as a stripper.  Not much to say there except Lindsay Lohan turned down the role in what may have been the worst career choice of her life.  Graham does what she usually does with a role, and that’s not much, but I don’t think there was much there to begin with, as the movie is really about the bond between the 4 guys.  There are some really great side characters in here as well.  Rob Riggle, Mike Epps, Jeffrey Tambor (Uncle Father!), Mike Tyson, and Ken Jeong all deliver hilarious, memorable performances.

I really loved the way the story was told.  We don’t actually see what happened on that fateful night, and that’s what makes it great.  We learn what happened as the guys do, and they never cease to surprise us.  This movie goes to places that you would never imagine.  The story has a huge set of balls, and it manages to pull it off, not just good, but great.  Also, the cinematography is superb.  You really feel the heat of Vegas beating down in each shot.  The sweat, the filth, the booze, the drugs, the sand, this really feels like Vegas (probably because it was actually shot in Vegas).  This movie really is worth seeing.  I recommend it to everybody.  Grandmas, Mom, Dad, your gay Uncle, this is really a great movie with tons and tons of heart and if you haven’t seen it, then you’re missing out.  I’m gonna go with a 9/10.