A trashed out luxury suite. Smoke rising, big-screen TV's smashed, empty beer cans strewn throughout, a random chicken running around, and a tiger trapped in the bathroom. These are just a few of this film's ingredients. Add all this together and you get comic perfection. The Hangover was the best comedy released in 2009, and to my mind the most memorable of recent years. It has a cleverly constructed script with lots of gags, funny situations and believable yet outright outlandish characters.
The Hangover starts out on a dusty road outside Las Vegas where three friends have lost their friend and can't find him. Ordinarily this wouldn't be that funny. But the fact that he is getting married that day makes for a brilliant scenario that makes for great viewing.
Our boys are in a battle against the clock. The story is told in a sort of flashback to the day before, where the gang sets off for Las Vegas to party it up before Doug's (Justin Bartha) big wedding on Saturday. Phil (Bradley Cooper) is a school teacher, but he definitely hates his job, tricking the kids into thinking they're paying for a field-trip by actually funding his Vegas trip with their money. He also says to a boy who approaches him after school: "It's the weekend, you do not exist!". Stu (Ed Helms) is a doctor (sorry, dentist) that seems unable to break away from his domineering fiance, and seems totally devoid of any kind of confidence or self-respect. Alan (Zack Galifinakis) is Doug's soon-to-be brother-in-law who tags along for the ride. Alan is a bearded, pudgy middle-aged man, yet has the playful innocence of youth: he is obsessed with counting cards, Rain Man and illegal things one can do on airplanes. This is Galifinakis' break-out performance, and he really shines here. He could've easily overplayed his character, but he keeps it simple, and we grow to love this little man who really cares about people and just wants to be part of the group.
The gang (or "wolfpack") check into Caesar's Hotel, and embark on a night they'll never forget. Of course, the opposite happens and they forget everything, including where Doug is. The film then sets out to retrace their steps in their search for Doug, and we are given many memorable situations, characters and cameos.
What makes this movie different to any other of it's overplayed genre is that the comedy seems natural and fresh, and doesn't rely on seemingly unplausible situations or events. This could very easily happen, and yes there are one or two things that seem a little far-fetched, but the balance gets it just right. Todd Philips (of Old School fame) takes a gamble by casting relatively unknowns as the leads, and it pays off handsomely. I think that's what gives it it's "freshness" is that we haven't really seen these people before, they seem more real. The script is really well-written and everything about the film is authentic.
This is not just a good comedy, it's a great comedy. You'll join in with the boys as they search to find their friend, but their friend also becomes "your" friend, such is the film's touch. As the film states: "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". Well, this film will stay with you. That is a guarantee.
No comments:
Post a Comment