The Hangover (Warner Brothers)
Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong, Rachael Harris, Mike Tyson, Mike Epps, Jernard Burks, Rob Riggle, Cleo King and Bryan Callen.
Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
Directed by Todd Phillips.
GRADE: B+
REVIEWWhat happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? That's what they say, but are there some vices too tough to erase? I've been on one or two bachelor parties and weekend road trips with the buddies of my youth to Sin City, but I'm proud to say I returned with most of my honor in tact. Some aren't so lucky, as being in the oasis of naughty behavior and gambling turns some sedentary types into decadent rascals. Such is the premise for
The Hangover, a movie about four guys out to show their groom-to-be buddy one last good time before he ties the knot.
The quartet is comprised of the betrothed Doug (Justin Bartha), Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galafianakis). Phil is the alpha male of the group, prodding the others into taking risks and spending a little more than they should on their Vegas trip. Doug is along for the ride, and Stu is a conservative dentist sneaking away from his overbearing she-beast of a girlfriend (Rachel Harris). Alan is Doug's soon-to-be brother in law, and the square peg among the revelers. Alan is quirky, weird, sometimes short tempered and a little dim-witted, which provides some of the funnier moments in the movie.
After the group arrives in Vegas, they toast to their future night of debauchery on the roof of Caesar's Palace to begin their adventure. The next scene opens as the group awakens hours later on the floor of their hotel suite, surrounded by a tiger, farm animals, smoldering furniture and an infant baby. Stu wakes up with a tooth missing and Phil discovers a hospital ID wrist band on his arm. The problem for the men is simple: they've lost the groom, and none of them can remember anything about the night before.
The rest of the movie is short on plot except to say the trio must try to re-trace their steps based on the few clues available, like the hospital wrist band, the baby, and the cop car brought to them by the hotel valet as they begin their quest to find Doug.
I won't give too much away except to say the baby has a mother (the lovely Heather Graham) who happens to be a prostitute who moonlights as a stripper because it helps her meet new clients. The tiger has a famous owner, and the cop car was definitely missed by Las Vegas' finest. The boys must also deal with an asian crime lord gambler who somehow ended up naked in the back of their car.
In the end, suffice to say the boys mostly live to tell their sordid tale, even though they can't really remember it.
The Hangover, to be sure, is a very funny movie, but it may not be suited to everyone's taste. The humor is VERY R-rated, so if naked people and colorful language make you blush or feel too naughty, stay away. The raunchiest part of the movie arrives during the credits, which are not the clichéd out takes of so many other films, but a collection of digital photos that document the forgotten night of debauchery led by the moving bachelor party. Be warned: The photos are very raunchy, and I was surprised
The Hangover got its R over a NC-17 rating.
If you like, perhaps you can look at seeing
The Hangover as you would a weekend in Vegas. What happens in the theater should stay in the theater.
