The Hangover

[Borris]

I had a chance to see a second advanced screening of this last night. Basically, I think it will be the movie for guys that Sex and the City was for women. Sure, it’s about four guys that take a road trip to Vegas for a bachelor’s party. And the connotation of “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” is surely and underlying theme, but throw out everything you know about this formula as it’s used in other movies, because The Hangover takes “what happens in Vegas says in Vegas” to

[Show spoiler]“what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…except for herpes; they come back with you”


The Hangover starts relatively simple. There’s Doug, who’s about to get married; Alan, who’s the slow-minded soon to be brother in-law to Doug. Then there’s Phil and Stu. Phil is a school teacher who is funding part of his portion of the Vegas trip by using the money given to him by his students for a field trip. Stu is in a long-term relationship with a cold woman that keeps the leash on him tight…even after cheating on him with a bartender on a cruise. She plays the type of woman that every guy will immediately see his ex in, but yet Stu has convinced himself that he is destined to marry her.
So after the character introductions are done with, the four friends set off for a night in Vegas that starts with them splurging for a villa at Caesar’s. After checking out the expensive room, the group goes up to the rooftop of the hotel with a botter of Jager that Alan has secretly spiked with x to loosen the group up for the night. The x turns out to be ruffies, however and the next thing the group knows is waking up in their trashed hotel room. There’s a live tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet, and Doug is nowhere to be found. The three groomsmen of Doug are left to figure out what happened the night before so they can find Doug and return him home in time for his wedding. Their only clues…the items shoved in their pockets including a valet slip for what turns out to be a police car, the baby, Stu’s tooth, and a hospital bracelet worn by Phil. But, there’s also people after them to add to the plot. At some point in the evening, the group abducted a flamboyant naked man named Mr. Chow and locked him in the trunk of their missing car. Once the car is discovered at the impound lot, it becomes clear that Phil did it because he was their “lucky charm” at the tables. Mr. Chow and his henchmen, then abduct Doug (albeit the wrong Doug) to get his winnings back.
Okay, so I won’t give everything away, so I’ll wrap up with just a couple more spoilers. The Hangover includes Mike Tyson trying to get his stolen tiger returned, Stu getting married to Jade (a stripper played by Heather Graham), and a camera found at the very end of the film that documented the night that they couldn’t remember and you have one of the best guy comedies to come out in a long time. It’s basically Road Trip for the 30-something crowd, so go get your guy friends, do some jagerbombs, and then go see The Hangover.

First screening (sober) 4/10
Second screening (slightly inebriated): 6.5/10

One more thing, I don't think I will be picking this up on blu. It's a good theater film for a group of guys, but not one that I would sit around and watch after a Sunday football game. It's kind of like Harold and Kumar in that it's a fun film, but I'm not sure it has enough repeatability to purchase.