The Hangover (2009)

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha

Three buddies wake up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas, with no memory of the previous night and the bachelor missing. They make their way around the city in order to find their friend before his wedding.

Since I’m not a big comedy fan, it probably is unfair for me to review comedies.

But let’s look at the film for what it is. The story is about three guys who can’t remember what they did the night before. Interesting enough concept. However, the film dishes up more than it can handle, and more than what is remotely possible for these guys to have done in a single night. Therefore, it is completely unrealistic – almost like a fantasy even. Stu marrying a hooker is unbelievable enough, let alone the wedding planner managing to print mugs, caps, coasters and other memorabilia in a matter of a few hours, and have it ready for them. That’s just not possible, and no-one would believe this. Unless you turn a blind eye to the reality issue, off course.

The acting is ok, although maybe a bit over the top at times. The film is demented and chaotic, which is not entirely a bad thing. Only, for a comedy it just wasn’t all that funny. More often than not I just shook my head in disbelief thinking “Really? You expect me to swallow all this garbage you’re feeding me?”

Some scenes were pure slapstick, and I hate slapstick. My favorite character by far, was Mr Chow (Ken Jeong). He was funny. Unfortunately, this film just didn’t do it for me, though…

‘The Hangover’ was a massive box office success, raking in $467 million on a $35 million budget. It won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. It also won awards for Movie of the Year, Best Comedy Movie, among others.

Would I watch it again? No.