TF Issue 193: Is It Just Me? The Hangover...

[Flynners]

Maybe its offensive like Borat was offensive, is there a (arguably) poorly executed satirical element to the Hangover? Its like your most debauched/shameful night ever on steroids! It may even be lifestyle porn for the young adult males its aimed at. Enjoyable enough while it lasts but I'm not sure it warrants a debate.

[Punchbowl]

It strikes me that maybe the Hangover is the same as Swingers, in as much as, if you're of the same age or younger, it does seem like the characters are cool and something to aspire to. But as you mature they become selfish and arrogant and people you cannot abide.

I know I used to love Swingers, but now I cannot sit through the film at all because the characters just piss me off.

[TomBeasley]

I actually thought the first one was quite a good comedy film. The second one though, I did find offensive. The rampant sexism and homophobia was immensely irritating.

[jaykays hat]

As it has been said before its a lads film, so its going to have some sexism and a little homophobia. Although I'm not sure what was homophobic about it? Cringing because your mate has just been shagged by a lady boy?

[TomBeasley]

Originally Posted by jaykays hat

As it has been said before its a lads film, so its going to have some sexism and a little homophobia. Although I'm not sure what was homophobic about it? Cringing because your mate has just been shagged by a lady boy?

To say that I have to deal with sexism and homophobia just because it's a lads' film is utterly ridiculous. It's perfectly possible to do lads' humour without being nasty to everyone.

It presented male-on-male sex as the most disgusting thing in the world, regardless of sexuality.

[jaykays hat]

Originally Posted by TomBeasley

To say that I have to deal with sexism and homophobia just because it's a lads' film is utterly ridiculous. It's perfectly possible to do lads' humour without being nasty to everyone.

It presented male-on-male sex as the most disgusting thing in the world, regardless of sexuality.

Yes it is possible to do a lads film without being nasty to everyone, would it get as many bums on seats in this day and age? I doubt it very much.

Many hetro males do regard male-on-male sex as the most disgusting thing in the world, I take it you don't hang around with 'the lads' and haven't found this out.

Just been reading your home page on your blog and you mention the brilliant knob gags on The Inbetweeners. You're slagging off The Hangover but praising The Inbetweeners? So its ok to be nasty to fat girls but not lady boys?

[Punchbowl]

I think most of us would be hypocrites if we blasted the Hangover for it crass humour.
That fact is the praise far, far outweighed it's worth.

[TomBeasley]

Originally Posted by jaykays hat

Yes it is possible to do a lads film without being nasty to everyone, would it get as many bums on seats in this day and age? I doubt it very much.

Many hetro males do regard male-on-male sex as the most disgusting thing in the world, I take it you don't hang around with 'the lads' and haven't found this out.

Just been reading your home page on your blog and you mention the brilliant knob gags on The Inbetweeners. You're slagging off The Hangover but praising The Inbetweeners? So its ok to be nasty to fat girls but not lady boys?

I am aware that many guys do take that view. I am also aware that many guys are dicks. I'd rather films didn't glorify the views of the dicks.

Films don't have to be nasty to get bums on seats and the case in point here is, as you so helpfully steered me towards, The Inbetweeners Movie. The huge difference between The Inbetweeners and The Hangover is the characters. In the former, the characters are well drawn and we actually care about them. They aren't over-the-top, irritating comedy creations: they're normal lads. They're just like a lot of the lads I study with at sixth form on a daily basis. I identify with them because they are like me and people I know. So when they make a fat joke or a knob gag, I laugh along because I like the characters and so I believe that it's all in the name of a jest rather than just plain nastiness.

However, the characters in The Hangover are just straight-up vile. Properly vile. None of them have any basis in reality and they somehow went from being quite amusingly silly in the first film to completely horrible wankers in the second film.

Also, if you remember the Inbetweeners Movie, Jay makes all of the fat jokes, but is then shown to be loved up with the fat girl at the end. It's a defence mechanism to hide his true feelings, which is what's behind pretty much all of Jay's nastiness. There's a justification for why he says what he says.

[jaykays hat]

The reason you prefer the inbetweeners and I prefer The Hangover is all down to age, you are a similar age to the boys in Inbetweeners and I am just past the age of the men in The Hangover. The Inbetweeners movie was like a holiday I went on when I was young free and single but I wasn't the one the ended up with the fat bird. The actor that plays Jay is from my home town.

[Jeffbiscuits]

Both films are really shit.