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In the simplest of terms, The Hangover is flat-out hilarious and thoroughly entertaining. Directed by Todd Phillips (Old School, School for Scoundrels), this above-average comedy is endowed with a premise bursting with comedic possibilities...and just about every single one of these possibilities is exploited in highly hysterical and satisfying ways. With a brisk runtime of less than 100 minutes, The Hangover is furiously-paced and teeming with gags, and none of these gags are unnecessarily drawn out. In an age of overstuffed, excessively vulgar comedies, this flick is a breath of fresh air - a reassuring mixture of genuine wit and shrewd laughs within side-splitting vignettes. Yet this is also a skilful picture, blessed with an ingeniously-constructed narrative that manages to keep an audience engaged while taking full advantage of the gifted cast and their individual comedic mojo. Shot in fifteen days on a modest $35 million budget, The Hangover is one of 2009's best comedies, and the unexpected commercial success affirms this sentiment.
The Hangover centres on a group of four friends. Doug (Bartha) is due to be married in a few days, and travels to Las Vegas with his groomsmen for his bachelor party. Unfortunately, the night does not go according to plan...
Following a short set-up, the action commences when the trio of extremely hungover groomsmen wake up in the apocalyptic wreckage of their highly expensive hotel suite. There's a tiger in the bathroom, an abandoned baby in the closet, and a chicken on the loose. They have absolutely no memory of what happened during the night...and Doug, whose wedding is in 24 hours, is inexplicably missing. After this point, the film transforms into a twisted, unbelievably hilarious detective story as the three hapless men attempt to piece together the events of the previous evening, track down the missing groom, and get to the church on time.
On its surface, The Hangover doesn't seem overly brilliant or original since the "bachelor party gone wrong" scenario is a well-established comedy subgenre. However, a majority of the clichés are astutely avoided, mainly because the movie begins where most comedies of this ilk finish: in the aftermath of the crazy party. Skipping the gratuitous party scenes is not just clever, but it's also an intrinsic aspect of the narrative since (thanks to a self-administered drug that turns out to be Rohypnol - the date rape drug) the main characters are as oblivious to the events of the previous night as we are. Exhibiting an ingenuity one wouldn't expect from the guys also responsible for Four Christmases and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore supply one hilarious pay-off after another as the protagonists frantically scramble to retrace their steps in order to reconnect with the misplaced groom. This central mystery, and the genuine concern the guys harbour for the well-being of their friend, provides the film with an excellent, frenzied momentum.
Discovering evidence to suggest what random (and somewhat disconcerting) events occurred during the previous night generates a lot of the comedy (such evidence includes a used condom, a police car, etc). Hysterical vignettes (such as those featuring the hilarious Ken Jeong) and incredibly witty dialogue constitute a lot of the humour as well. There are also amusing references to Rain Man and A Beautiful Mind, but they aren't as funny as the inclusion of the clichéd notion that there's nothing as hilarious as a pratfall by a fat man. Most commendably, The Hangover is the furthest thing from a Judd Apatow-style comedy (the style which appears to be a popular trend in contemporary Hollywood). There is profanity and crude humour in this unapologetically R-rated laugh-fest, but there's more of an assortment of gags...the makers don't rely solely on vulgarity. Heart is not sacrificed in the pursuit of laughs as the film manages to include plenty of the former and a super-abundance of the latter.
One of the only real failings of The Hangover is that there are one or two lulls during which the laughs aren't as frequent. And the characters finally realise where Doug has ended up on account of a play on words during a random dialogue exchange. This is way too easy, as if the writers were seeking a quick, lazy way to proceed into the final act. Thankfully, however, the concluding act is loaded with comedic energy, culminating in a series of photographs guaranteed to have audiences howling riotously throughout the end credits. The Hangover does occasionally lack originality, and the ending is pretty conventional...but the conventions are a given. And who really cares when the clichés can generate a movie this infinitely enjoyable?
It's especially refreshing to behold a legitimately hilarious movie that's free of most Judd Apatow regulars (Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and so on).
The comedic trio of actors taking centre stage in The Hangover are impeccable. Bradley Cooper plays the likable leader of the pack. He generally avoids the "asshole" vibe given off by characters in similar films, thus making Phil an extremely appealing individual. Beside him, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis deliver excellent performances, coming across as completely natural while conveying the quirky mannerisms of their characters. While Helms is highly amusing, Galifianakis is the scene-stealer here as the socially awkward Alan who asks inane questions like "Did Caesar really live here?" as the gang check into Caesar's Palace. Galifianakis is an utter riot, whose one-liners and facial expressions are constantly hilarious. And as the missing groom the trio are searching for, Justin Bartha is terrific.
The Hangover is of course populated with plenty of other weirdos...and each new person the boys encounter is weirder than the one before them. Heather Graham (in career-resuscitating mode) stars as a hooker while Mike Tyson briefly appears as himself. The always-endearing Jeffrey Tambor also delivers a few amusing lines. Out of the supporting cast, Ken Jeong is the most hilarious and quotable as a Chinese gangster.
Quite frankly, the less written about The Hangover the better. This is a movie that needs to be experienced, not spoiled. It's best valued as an extended surprise, with the hilarity significantly enhanced by an atmosphere of the unexpected. Every once in a while, one needs to just sit back and enjoy an effortlessly hilarious film. The Hangover is the right film for the job and it's destined to become a cult comedy classic. You'll be laughing about it for weeks.
8.4/10
