The Hangover (2009) *****

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Submitted by Managing Editor on Thu, 18/06/2009 - 8:18am
in
hangover.jpg

By Rebecca Stewart

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong, Rachael Harris, Mike Tyson
Writing Credits: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Rated: Australia MA | US R | UK 15
Run time: 100 minutes
Director: Todd Phillips

The “bucks night gone wrong” is not unfamiliar territory in Hollywood story telling. So the idea of sitting in a dark cinema with a cliched film for around an hour and a half wasn’t an exciting prospect. And the hype surrounding the release of the film wasn’t particularly comforting either. We all know how a hyped-up film can end up. However, what has resulted is one of the funniest films in recent times. With few big-names in sight.

The premise: four guys head to Vegas for a bachelor party.

Ask the same question of anyone – boys night out plus Las Vegas plus alcohol equals what – and you’d generally get similar answers. But this wonderful little film brings surprising freshness to a tired, well-used genre.

The morning after, the boys wake up one man short, unfortunately the groom, and the three are left to piece together the events of their night out in a race to find the groom before the wedding.

The script is well written by relative newcomers Lucas and Moore and the subtly of the comedy is excellently executed by Bradley Cooper (He’s Just Not That Into You, Yes Man) and Ed Helms. Though the real scene stealer is Galifianakis, whose comic timing and perfect delivery breathe life into the awkward, geeky brother-in-law-to-be and adds the perfect twist to the comedy that already takes us on hilarious and unexpected turns throughout the film.

The cast have been well pulled together and directed by Phillips (Old School, Starsky & Hutch) and this makes the discovery of the events of the past 10 hours more than bearable, at times shocking and on occasion mystifying. The chemistry between the actors render the characters completely believable and their ease on-screen defies belief that this film was actually scripted.

This fast-paced, inventive film is the mature version of an immature comedy that will have you laughing long after the credits have rolled.

Official site

Comments

Good review, well written.

Submitted by Just Passing on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 6:30pm.

Good review, well written. Maybe watch out for cliches such as "long after the credits have rolled".

Very good post, thanks a lot.

Submitted by dido (not verified) on Wed, 30/12/2009 - 2:11am.

Very good post, thanks a lot.

I just saw the film. Effing

Submitted by Just Passing on Sun, 26/07/2009 - 7:13pm.

I just saw the film. Effing hilarious. I get what you mean about credits now. Maybe write "will have you laughing even while the credits are rolling"

;)

Humour

Submitted by Just Passing on Tue, 21/07/2009 - 10:52am.

My boyfriend and I felt this movie was a little hyped up and wasn't as funny as everyone made out. It was, however, a good story and had a slightly different twist to most predictable movies set in Las Vegas.