The Hangover (2009)

3.0

COMEDY
U.S. Release Date: 06/05/2009
Running Length: 100 Minutes
MPAA Classification: R (Profanity, Sexual Situations, Nudity, Drugs)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2:35:1
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese
Director: Todd Phillips
Screenplay: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Cinematography: Lawrence Sher
Music: Christophe Beck
U.S. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Review by: Carter Moulton

06/18/09

The Hangover is aptly titled. It’s not merely a film about the night of the party; it’s a film that addresses the issues of remembering such a night. It’s a grotesque fairytale that abuses the ideal of “fun” with beer-bottle shards. It’s shameful to watch the three leads rediscover their drunken-doings as they search for their friend. It’s embarrassing and offensive in just about every controversial arena. It’s also really funny.

The Hangover knows its place and doesn’t stretch anything too thin, which, I’m relieved to say, is the only way this film could work. Basically, four guys—Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug—go to Vegas for a bachelor party before Doug’s wedding, and late the “morning after”, the group realizes that Doug is missing. The rest of the film features the three piecing together their night and trying to find Doug before his wedding. Director Todd Phillips returns to the alcoholic-fun after directing Old School in 2003, and he seems to have a feel for balancing “shock-and-awe” moments with classic comedy situations—Exhibit A:

“Shock-and-awe” moments: people pop out of trunks, animals appear in odd places, and obscene images are mercilessly thrown onto the screen, etc.

Classic comedy situations: they steal a cop-car, steal Mike Tyson’s tiger, and, while in jail, mess with a group of field-trip students, etc.

Photo © Warner Bros.

Ed Helms, Andy Bernard from “The Office”, plays Stu, who’s living a reserved life thanks to his commanding girlfriend of three years. His character sees the most development, although character growth isn’t all that relevant to the story given The Hangover’s tone. It’s a performance that Ed Helms fans will be familiar with, which isn’t a bad thing: when injected into The Hangover’s world, an Andy Bernard-type fits pretty well. Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers, Yes Man) is Phil, a gaudy piece-of-work schoolteacher who we can easily categorize as a, for the lack of a better word,  “bro”. Zach Galifianakis has floated around the comedy scene for a while, and this is a breakout role. He plays Alan, the severely dimwitted brother of the bride-to-be, and, although his gags sometimes miss their mark, he provides some of the funniest material in the film.

It’s summertime, and I suppose America could use a film like this: a light, disposable romp filled with discussion-starting moments. It’s timely—not timeless—but for its current purposes, The Hangover brings the laughter in bunches. Don’t go in expecting The 40 Year Old Virgin or Adventureland; this film doesn’t have a heart. The credit sequence is a little over-the-top for my taste—I’m confident you’ll feel the same way too—but The Hangover will make you laugh, and that’s all it wants to do.