By Malice Intended

The Hangover proves problematic for anyone who is seeking more than what the trailers promise.  It gives you just that much and nothing else.  It isn’t a bad film by any means, just very adequate.  As far as comedies go, it is the cinematic equivalent of a between meal snack.  It gives you just enough to keep you going until a more substantial meal comes along.

The story/plot doesn’t go any further than what the advertising materials have already revealed.  Four friends head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.  There is the groom Doug Billings (Justin Bartha), alpha male Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper), Hen-pecked Dentist Stu Price (Ed Helms), and all around weirdo Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis).  They all head for the City of Sin for a night they will never forget.  They end up doing the exact opposite; having such a wild time that they wake up the next morning without a clue as to what transpired the night before.  Their hotel suite has been trashed beyond recognition.  There is a baby in the closet, and a tiger has inexplicably found its way into the bathroom.  Worst of all, they lose the groom.  The boys then commence on a fantastic voyage through Vegas to find their friend and get him down the aisle intact.

Story and plot aren’t important in a film like this.  They function as a set-up for sight gags, punch lines, and a series of absurd events.   The humor is derived from the ridiculousness of these situations and how characters react to and overcome whatever obstacles they are presented with.

Justin Bartha has the thankless role of Doug Billings, the elusive object of the movie long search.  He’s missing for most of the movie, which makes his performance a bit harder to judge.  The most one can say is that you care about his plight despite the fact that you never get to know him as well as you do the other characters    

Hangover does have likable characters inhabited by likable actors and that’s where it scores.  Bradley Cooper takes the role of Phil and turns him into something more than just the alpha male.  Ed Helms plays nerdy and stiff as the emasculated Stu Price, who plans on proposing to a girlfriend who openly admits to cheating on him.  Helms finds just the right balance playing Stu.  Not so weak that you can’t relate to him, but enough to feel for him

The breakout character that steals the show is Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner, a slovenly weirdo who serves as idiot savant.  He is easily the funniest character of the bunch and his reaction to just everything around him is wild and unpredictable; an intriguing combination of child-like innocence and stalker-like creepiness. We never quite know what the deal is with him, but we don’t mind letting him tag along. 

Special mention should be made of former heavy weight champion Mike Tyson’s appearance in the film.  Mike plays himself, and is somehow surprisingly effective and endearing.   The film milks his image for laughs, and his introductory scene is laugh out loud funny. His detractors see him as a hulking brute and a thug.  His fans see him as misunderstood and unlucky.  Hangover mashes those two personas together in this extended cameo and makes this already wild journey even more bizarre.

The Hangover never feels the need to shoehorn any heartfelt messages or life lessons into the proceedings. It is content to simply be funny and entertaining.  Director Todd Phillips (Old School) has crafted a very practical and efficient film.  It serves a specific purpose and is content to do just that.

Is it unfair then, to say that the film leaves you wanting more?  The Hangover is fun, and I would recommend it for a fun night at the movies.  However, there was a bit more lurking under the surface that could’ve have been explored; a few dark places and personality quirks that could have been exploited for even deeper laughs.  The character traits are presented make us more curious about these guys, but the film never offers any further analysis.  Why is Alan so weird?  He’s a guy in his 30’s still practicing blood oaths with his best friends.  Surely there is a back story that may illuminate why. 

The Hangover is the most un-pretentious film of the summer so far.  It gives you exactly what it promises.  It’s consistently funny throughout, and unlike the main characters you’ll remember everything that happened.

Out of 5

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