Somewhere in Hollywood lies a gated mansion where all the cool kids hang out – it’s the Comedy Pantheon, and on the right you see “Caddyshack,” on the left “Animal House” and “Blazing Saddles is somewhere in the back. There’s a ring at the door and in comes stumbling is this unexpected movie from 2009, with a lampshade on its head, no pants and a half-empty bottle of Jager. Legends, meet “The Hangover.”
Todd Phillips’ comedy has such a simple and brilliant premise. A bachelor party gone wrong, nothing is remembered and the crew must trace its way across Las Vegas and put the pieces together before the 5 p.m. wedding – because the groom is missing. Ready, set, go. It takes all of five seconds to understand the plot. It takes less time to relate, for anyone who has ever woke up naked next to a person or persons whose names they don’t know; who can’t figure why a certain part of the body is bruised or aching; or simply don’t even know where they are.
As with many classic comedies, the characters fall into archetypes. Bradley Cooper (whose interview with Christian Toto can be read here) is the ringleader Phil, the pretty boy school teacher who regrets letting his single years pass. Doug (Justin Bartha from National Treasure) is the straight-laced groom to be. Ed Helms (who Toto also interviewed at his site) is the Jewish dentist, a bit of a nerd, and is demeaned constantly by his abusive girlfriend (a brunette and unrecognizable Racheal Harris). Alan, played by Zach Galifianikis is the deranged loser and steals the show. Pack them in a convertible, and away we go.
The movie opens with a desperate call from Phil to Doug’s wife-in-waiting. It then backtracks two days to show the journey to Vegas. It culminates with a rooftop ceremony of shots and a psychotically funny speech from Alan. We then fast forward to daybreak where the ultra-expensive hotel room is wrecked and surprise after surprise await our delirious and hungover crew.
The writing is tight, as is the story. The movie is the perfect length and avoids the contemporary Apatow affectations. There isn’t any needlessly long setups or masturbatory dialogue. The movie doesn’t overstay its welcome, in fact it does what good movies do, leave you wanting more. There are a few pop culture jokes, but unlike Apatow or his ilk, they aren’t crammed down your throat and they don’t take you out of the movie.
Cooper’s Phil is a star-making turn. Formerly the bad guy in “Wedding Crashers” and most recently starring in “He’s Just Not That Into You,” Cooper finally gets his big break starring role with a hit. Bartha is already part of a hit franchise. Helms and Galifiankis get their big turns in the spotlight and hit the ball out of the park.
The film is outright funny and even better if one has avoided the commercials or trailers. There is always a surprise around the corner, some from rather unexpected places, and it all plays out over due time. It avoids the Vegas style setup – the movie feels like a hangover.
Perhaps the ultimate compliment to “The Hangover” was paid by Mrs. FNWayne who stated – “I could go see that again, right now.”
Go see it, and get drunk if you do.
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Great review! On your recommendation I suspect me and the Mrs. will see this one.
Do we have to wait to get drunk until we see it? I mean, what if we can’t get to the show until Friday, or tomorrow, or even tonight?
I have not seen any trailers or commercials for this. All I’ve read about it are what you and June Cleaver have written. I agree that it sounds like a great premise. Very clever.
Also, I love the elevator shot you used. I really like a comedy that takes time to do the little stuff, like frame a shot like the above. One of my favorite scenes in “The Blues Brothers” is when Jake and Elwood are in the elevator and “The Girl from Ipanema” is playing on the Muzak. It’s so out of place, yet so typical, and so perfect. I’m probably the only one in the world who would miss it if it were editied out, but it’s the little stuff like that that makes a movie go from good to great.
Rufus, you are not alone. I would miss that scene, too. My husband thinks it is crazy that I know the song.
Ahhhh.
All parts of the mission from God would be sorely missed.
Does anyone know the significance of the “Cheez Whiz” scene? When Jake takes Elwood to his room in the flop house by the El tracks (that building’s on Wabash Ave., by the way) an old man stops Jake when they enter the lobby. He says something like, “Hey Boy, did you get my Cheez Whiz?” and Akroyd tosses the guy a jar of Cheez Whiz. That scene has to mean something, but I’ve no idea what. Are they spoofing a famous scene in another movie?
Rufus here; Elwood takes Jake to his (Elwood’s room), NOT the way I wrote it. Swap Jake for Elwood (or vice versa) throughout my comment. Man, I suck. When are you guys going to wake up and revoke my password? Have you no standards?
Love that scene and actually quote it often. Significance, though? No idea. Maybe he wanted the whippet?
About six months or so ago, I saw the director’s cut of Blues Brothers. (I preferred the original.)
It included an earlier scene where the old guy asked them to get him some Cheez Whiz. And by cutting out that scene, it was “out-of-the-blue” enough to be very funny.
I only saw The Blues Brothers for the first time about a month ago, but didn’t the Cheez Whiz scene occur just before or after the scene of Elwood’s last day at the factory? Elwood walks into the factory, grabs a bunch of cans off an assembly line, stuffs them into his briefcase, and then walks into his boss’s office to say that he’s quitting to become a priest.
Anyway, what I got from the juxtaposition of the Cheez Whiz and the factory scene was that Elwood had made a habit of stealing cans of stuff off the assembly line. And this was in turn a setup for the scene where, prior to the car chase, Elwood sprays lubricant on the police cruiser’s wheels and superglue on the Good Ol’ Boys’ accelerator.
Now that I think about it, that’s probably not right, because what kind of place packages aerosol superglue and Cheez Whiz in the same factory?
metaphizzle—
You’re probably right. I just remembered that there was a set-up for the Cheez Whiz toss, and that by cutting out the set-up it became a funny moment.
We also loved this movie and laughed our butts off throughout the whole thing (my husband thought he was going to pass out from convulsive laughter). We are telling everyone who appreciates this kind of humor (and I suspect that is most everyone around here) to go see it. You don’t have to be drunk to enjoy it, although it might give you a different take on it. We were with Mrs. FNW and were trying to plan a return trip as we left the theater.
You are right (go ahead and take your bow) about the little things making the movie. The stuff we are still laughing about are the small details and throwaway lines. I won’t elaborate, it will be better unspoiled.
The dreaded “mystery bruise.” I’ve heard of those.
Okay, this one’s next after “Up.” I’ve come to rely on you, John.
They should have titled this, “Dude, Where’s My Groom?”
I’ve read that comparison many a time, but “Dude” is nowhere in the class of “The Hangover.”
Can’t do the drunk part. Can I see it anyway?
Stacie.Make.Do, another one of my favorite, so tiny only I notice it, scenes in a comedy is in “Young Frankenstein.” The monster is on the loose and Dr. Frankenstein, Igor and Inga are on the roof of the castle. Dr. Frankenstein is playing “the song” on the violin, in hopes it will draw the monster back to the castle. He and Inga are talking about the situation as he plays the song. What you almost don’t notice in the scene is Marty Feldman as Igor, holding a French or English horn. He ultimately plays 3 notes in the bridge of the song. It kills me whenever I see it. I can’t take my eyes off of Feldman. There is absolutely no need for him in the scene, no need for the horn, no need for those three notes… Terri Garr and Gene Wilder don’t even acknowledge his being there, but Mel Brooks put it in there and Marty Feldman does a fantastic job!
The back half of my umping games got canceled tomorrow night, so will be off to a night in the theater once we call the last out in the 6:00 game.
Just eject both coaches for spurrious reasons in the early innings and you can save some money and catch a matinee.
Would love to, but sadly, AMC’s matinees end at 6 and I don’t think the Arclight even has matinees.
Besides, I’m not behind the plate till Thursday.
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Saw this movie last night. It was absolutely hilarious. My friends and I were doubled over with laughter a handful of times and laughing out loud the rest. There are few comedies in my blu-ray/DVD collection, this one is going to be purchased the moment it comes out.
Saw it last weekend… rolled with laughter. The part with the guy and the thing.. and the other thing and the way he walked… priceless!!!!!!!