The Hangover

Released: 2009
MPAA rating: R
Runtime: 1:40


After watching a movie with moderately low expectations and being pleasantly surprised ("Knowing"), I come to a movie with pretty high expectations based on so many friends who hailed its praises. So, did this have the reverse effect? Did I have the opposite reaction, being let down? Absolutely not. "The Hangover", as you have probably heard, is a very funny movie. The basic premise does not sound all that special: Four friends make a bachelor party expedition to Las Vegas, where things go horribly wrong. I thought this might be some combination of "Bachelor Party" and "Very Bad Things", which had similar themes. This movie stands apart from those by taking that premise and giving it a very original twist. After setting up the characters and getting the Vegas visit started, the film jumps to the morning after, with only three of the guys present in the room with a baby and a live tiger. The comedy comes from the three guys trying to piece together how they got to this point and trying to locate their missing friend, who also happens to be the groom! Sure, as the night is pieced together, there are plenty of over-the-top shenanigans, but it all works beautifully and is very, very funny. The key here is the chemistry of the three leads. Zach Galifianakis, Bradley CooperEd Helms (from "The Office") really click together in this movie. Each one of them is brilliantly funny in their own right when they need to be and their interaction with each other is even better. Since comedy depends mostly on surprise, I won't even discuss the plot beyond what I already have, but it is definitely a good time. The cast is rounded out by the groom, Justin Bartha, and Heather Graham as the "stripper with a heart of gold". If you have not seen it yet, you are in for a treat!! This is quite possibly the funniest movie since "Dumb and Dumber" and "There's Something About Mary".

Grade: A

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