The Hangover (15)
Dude, where’s the groom?
TOTAL FILM RATING USER RATING (13 users)
BY: Neil Smith Jun 9th 2009 FILED UNDER: Cinema reviews
"Do you know where the Best Little Wedding Chapel is?” asks one of the clueless heroes of Todd Phillips’ raucous latest. “Sure,” says a testy doctor from the Las Vegas ER.
“It’s on the corner of ‘Fuck Off’ and ‘Get a Map’.” If you’ve caught the trailer, you already know The Hangover contains knockabout farce a-plenty involving one trashed hotel suite, taser-happy cops and a crooning Mike Tyson.
As that exchange proves, however, there’s oodles of verbal humour as well, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore’s inventively profane script missing few opportunities to tickle the funny bone as it charts the deranged aftermath of the ultimate Sin City stag night.
Marking a return to the sparkling form of Phillips’ earlier Road Trip and Old School, this thoroughly entertaining, often hilarious tale of three groomsmen sifting through the wreckage of a debauched evening that has left one of them (Ed Helms) missing a lateral incisor and all of them missing a groom (Justin Bartha) certainly delivers its fair share of ribald fratboy comedy.
In keeping with other recent ‘bromances’ like I Love You, Man and Role Models, though, The Hangover roots its outlandish elements in recognisably human relationships, Helms and Bradley Cooper’s attempts to locate Bartha’s Doug and get him to the church on time being motivated by a genuine sense of filial responsibility towards a needy, AWOL comrade.
It’s this that sends them and Doug’s future brother-in-law Alan (a film-stealing turn from stand-up comedian Zach Galifianakis) on a manic odyssey down The Strip that sees them minding a baby, returning a tiger, bonding with a stripper (Heather Graham) and dodging a demented Asian gangster (Ken Jeong).
The ensuing shenanigans are convoluted enough to fill two pictures, which probably explains why a follow-up is already in the works. The gags wouldn’t land half as well, though, if we didn’t engage with Phillips’ protagonists as they stagger blearily through their waking nightmare.
Indeed, it’s knowing we’ve all been there that ensures we do.
Verdict:
Succeeding equally well as rowdy romp, what-happened mystery and man-crush comedy, /The Hangover/ is an unexpected winner. If you’re at all squeamish about dentistry, though, you’d best leave before the end credits reveal how Helms came to lose that tooth.
Print User Reviews (13)
paisleybhoy7
Just got back from watching this rubbish, not funny at all, got very bored of the movie walked out after 65minutes and I wasnt the only person, abos**te c**p. the only positive was I got refunded
User rating: 1
Posted Jun 12th 2009 // 2:16PMAlert a moderator
thesquire51
Ignore paisleybhoy7. This film is hilarious. It had everybody laughing out loud in the cinema and has some classic lines. Considering the cast are not that well known generally, they were all really good. Shame that Tyson's cameo was the most wooden performance ever, but all in all, probably the funniest comedy I've seen this year.
User rating: 4
Posted Jun 15th 2009 // 1:04AMAlert a moderator
captainchod
Definately ignore paisleybhoy7. I was lucky enough to be taken to see this after a friend of mine got 2 free tickets. I wasn't really expecting much, but this is definately the funniest film of the year. It had me laughing all the way through, and I haven't left the cinema in a better mood for a long, long time.
User rating: 5
Posted Jun 15th 2009 // 2:35PMAlert a moderator
chuffster
I have to agree with paisleybhoy7,it was totally unfunny and extremely boring. I walked out after 45 minutes though!
User rating: 1
Posted Jun 16th 2009 // 3:03PMAlert a moderator
somers16
literally the funniest movie i have ever seen and im not exaggerating. charachters are lovable and hilarious with a stryline which is great! 9/10
User rating: 5
Posted Jun 18th 2009 // 10:19PMAlert a moderator
spuckle
I laughed out loud at this more than I have at a film in ages. Ignore the negative reviews, it's a cut above your average comedy flick.
User rating: 5
Posted Jun 18th 2009 // 10:20PMAlert a moderator
Marta
I have to agree with captainchod - when I went to see this film (also had free tickets) I wasn't expecting much but I really liked it. I haven't laughed like that for a quite long time. V.funny and left positive feelings. Loved the last bit. I'll probably watch it again sometime.
User rating: 5
Posted Jun 19th 2009 // 4:16PMAlert a moderator
parker
awesome movie. one of the best comedies in years.
User rating: 5
Posted Jun 25th 2009 // 12:04PMAlert a moderator
ManMadeMonkey
So surprised by just how good this film was. The first trailer wasn't funny, second was much funnier and that convinced me to go and see it. Hilarious movie
User rating: 5
Posted Jul 7th 2009 // 10:12PMAlert a moderator
zakmccormack
Not as funny as I expected but still was a great movie. Some parts did have me in stitches, plus I thought Mike Tysons part was brilliant.
User rating: 3
Posted Jul 15th 2009 // 5:08PMAlert a moderator
Phoenix81
Really good film, crazy situation - Loved it!!
User rating: 4
Posted Jul 28th 2009 // 2:04PMAlert a moderator
hulk68
The people who said this film was boring must be on "floories" or something. It was much better than I expected. For the first time the situation is the actual hero. I went out with fantasitic mood, read my Public Enemis short review. Both excellent movies nontheless.
User rating: 5
Posted Aug 5th 2009 // 12:53PMAlert a moderator
Hazza
This film is great. funny the whole way through, "counting cards isn't illegal, it's just frowned upon.. like masturbating on an airplane." Zach Galifianakis plays a great part as Alan. Best Comedy so far this year, in my opinion.
User rating: 5
Posted Sep 18th 2009 // 1:53PMAlert a moderator
Film Details
- Release Date Jun 12th 2009
- Certificate 15
- Genre
- Starring
- Director
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