The Hangover (2009)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Todd Phillips

Writers (WGA):

Jon Lucas (written by) &
Scott Moore (written by)

Release Date:

5 June 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Some guys just can't handle Vegas

Plot:

A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Las Vegas | Party | Morning After | Los Angeles

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Bradley Cooper	...	Phil Wenneck
Ed Helms	...	Stu Price
Zach Galifianakis	...	Alan Garner
Justin Bartha	...	Doug Billings
Heather Graham	...	Jade
Sasha Barrese	...	Tracy Garner
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Sid Garner
Ken Jeong	...	Mr. Chow
Rachael Harris	...	Melissa
Mike Tyson	...	Himself
Mike Epps	...	Black Doug
Jernard Burks	...	Leonard
Rob Riggle	...	Officer Franklin
Cleo King	...	Officer Garden
Bryan Callen	...	Eddie Palermo

Also Known As:

Hangover (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.

Runtime:

99 min | 108 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45241) | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Finland:K-13 | Iceland:12 | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA (cut) | USA:Unrated (unrated version) | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:12 (f) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:16 | Mexico:B15 | India:A | Brazil:14 | UK:18 (DVD version) | Australia:R (DVD version) | Australia:R (extended version) | Turkey:15+

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

At one point, Officer Franklin (Rob Riggle) refers to Alan as "Fat Jesus." This is a reference to a Zach Galifianakis joke from his "Comedy Central Presents" (1998), in which he claims, "I look like Fat Jesus...not Phat Jesus."

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the guys change their money at the blackjack table, the dealer turns his head around to call out the change. Casino dealers are not allowed to turn their head away from the table.

Quotes:

Sid Garner: Don't let Alan drive, because there's something wrong with him.
Doug Billings: Understood.
Sid Garner: Oh, and Phil either. I don't like him.

Movie Connections:

References Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Soundtrack:

Three Best Friends

A very funny movie

With the exception of one character (more later in this review), I found this movie filled with male, sophomoric humor. Having said that most of the females in the audience also enjoyed it; kind of an equal opportunity movie to offend all sexes equally.

Unlike most trailers that show all the humor in a 60 second clip, this movie will throw so many funny situations at you so quickly that you will be giggling non-stop for the first hour.

Then, the introduction of the Mr. Chow part - essential for the plot, but played WAY over the top by Ken Jeong - became distracting. Up to that point, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, and Zach Galifianakis carried the movie briskly and with real chemistry. Zach Galifianakis, in particular, was brilliant. Who is this guy???! The last 30 minutes were not as good as the first hour and I found the ending somewhat forced.

HOWEVER, everyone I talked with after the movie will be seeing it again. This is one movie that is as funny as advertised.

Of course, I will get flamed by those who find this kind of humor too low brow for their tastes. Hey, just know what you're getting into when you see this.