 “The Hangover” follows a Vegas bachelor party that goes horribly and hilariously wrong. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.
THE HANGOVER (Rated R)
Right up front, there are two very important things to say about “The Hangover,” an over-the-top comedy from the feverish mind of director Todd Phillips (best known for “Old School” and “Road Trip”).
First, this is likely the funniest film of the year, particularly since its carefree, wacky attitude leads to all sorts of reckless escapades.
Second, this madcap whirl in Las Vegas is highly inappropriate for children and may prove offensive to large swaths of moviegoers, notably those who may have qualms about its frequent lack of good taste or decorum.
Of this I am sure, “The Hangover” may be the ultimate guy’s movie of the year, soon to make a top 10 list in Maxim magazine.
Working off the familiar premise of the bachelor party gone terribly wrong, “The Hangover” finds dangerous and raucous ways to turn a night of hard partying into a full-blown fiasco.
The surprise twists are so numerous in this off-the-wall comedy that you run the risk of getting dizzy from all the excitement.
The fun starts before the group of four guys even check into Caesars Palace. The rather placid, straight-arrow Doug (Justin Bartha), who’s two days away from getting married, is persuaded by his best friends Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms) to take a road trip to Vegas.
Joining them for a blow-out bachelor party is future brother-in-law Alan (Zach Galifianakis), a clueless man-child who definitely acts weird and asks the strangest possible questions.
A night of irresponsibility is telegraphed the minute the group, while checking into the hotel, decides it’s a swell idea to take the $4,000 a night suite, which is secured by a hold on Stu’s credit card.
The nervous, henpecked Stu, worried that his domineering girlfriend will find out they are not on a Napa Valley wine-tasting trip, can barely hold himself together for an evening of fun.
Meanwhile, Phil, the de facto ringleader, is hell-bent for a night of frivolity, no matter what the cost. As a school teacher, Phil has already set aside his students’ field trip money to finance his gambling plans. Getting ready for a big night of debauchery, the quartet decides to toast their adventures with champagne on the roof of the hotel.
Shortly after the champagne glasses are raised, the action shifts abruptly to the morning after, where the fancy suite looks like it was trashed by a rock band. Chickens run loose, a tiger belonging to Mike Tyson is discovered locked in the bathroom, and a baby is in the cupboard. Inflatable party dolls bob in the Jacuzzi, while a chair still smolders from what appears to have been a fire and an ottoman dangles from the ceiling.
As the revelers regain consciousness, they begin to assess the damage, though they have no recollection of what happened. After it is apparent that Doug has disappeared, Phil remains confident that everything will be fine, while Stu, the worrier, launches into a panic that escalates with each new offense uncovered in the wreckage of their suite, beginning with the fact that he’s missing a tooth. Alan is now dazed and confused, in addition to being clueless.
Since the trio has no memory of a night of decadence in Sin City, they attempt to retrace their steps with whatever clues they find, such as an ATM receipt for $800 and the hospital bracelet on Phil’s wrist. The claim ticket for valet parking turns up a Vegas police car.
Their search leads to the dingy side of Vegas, beginning with a cut-rate wedding chapel where Stu apparently married a stripper (Heather Graham). Then they run into a bunch of vicious, armed thugs working for the lethal and unhinged Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong), who wildly claims that the group stole his casino winnings. Of course, they also spend some time at the police station.
There are so many gags, jokes and hilarious situations in this movie that it would take a strenuous effort to catalog them, and frankly, I don’t want to give away too much.
“The Hangover,” a delightfully crass and outlandish comedy, is the perfect cure for the doldrums. This is not a comedy for everyone, but it is probably one of the funniest films in quite some time. Be sure to stay for the end credits for the gallery of snapshots, some of which are truly offensive.
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
The A&E Network scored a hit with its original series “The Cleaner,” starring Benjamin Bratt as William Banks, a drug addict who strikes a deal with God after the birth of his daughter, promising to help others overcome addictions if he’s given a second chance.
A highly rated drama series, “The Cleaner: The First Season” is being released on DVD.
Vowing to kick his addictions after hitting rock bottom, Banks helps others to do the same by any means necessary.
In his efforts, he’s assisted by Arnie (Esteban Powell), a wily smart aleck who is great undercover, and by Akani (Grace Park), the beautiful and manipulative woman who always gets the best assignments.
Darnell (Kevin Michael Richardson), the newest member of the crew, has difficulty balancing his deep religious convictions with the work required to be part of the team.
Not surprisingly, “The Cleaner” proved to be an unconventional TV series. But more is on the way, with the second season premiering on June 23 on A&E.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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