We’re now one week into my quest to chart the Top 25 Movies of 2009 and we’ve already had some controversy. Some will disagree with my placing of watchmen at 20, some with the fact that Anvil! The Story of Anvil get a place at all and yet more will find fault with my placing of today’s movie. I invite and welcome all criticism. I mean I’m no expert!
Number 19 of my list is…
Four guys go to Vegas and some really wild stuff happens to them, okay there’s a little more to it than that. Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three best-friends (well 2 best friends and his brother-in-law to be) head to Vegas for a night they’ll never forget. Unfortunately when the 3 grooms-men wake the next morning they cannot remember a thing and worse, the groom is nowhere to be found. The more they retrace their steps from the night before the worse things get for them all.
Why it’s worthy: The laughs come hard and fast and the whole movie is an adrenaline fuelled rocket of sheer comedy. The stars are very likeable, and the chemistry between the lead 3 is central to the whole film. Bradley Cooper is perfectly cast as the group alpha male; Ed Helms as the neurotic, hen-pecked, moany one; but Zack Galifianakis is the stand-out, as the token beardo-weirdo, stoner loser. Old School director, not bowing to Will Ferrell level star power here allows the script from Jon Lucas and Scott Moore a chance to breathe and the result is characters which each have a unique selling point. Granted some of the characters are painted with broad strokes but the actors inhabit the skins so well that you fail to notice the clichédness as you struggle to control bouts of spontaneous laughter.
Fatal flaws: It’s certainly not original, I mean the bachelor party gone wrong is a staple of grown-men acting like kids comedy since the dawn of humanity. However this is one of the best takes on the genre in years. If the movie has a flaw though then it’s in the groom himself, he’s just not interesting or funny. Thankfully the script realises that and jettisons him at the first opportunity. The ending is hackneyed and painfully predictable, but it’s a testament to everything that goes before that this really doesn’t interfere. Some of the celebrity cameos are laboured, lines like “Caesar’s Palace! Does Caesar live here?” need a little work, and a lot of the jokes are crude and vulgar. Thankfully they all add to the charm of the film.
Verdict: Dude Where’s My Car with brains, attitude and spunk, The Hangover is easily one of the funniest and most enjoyable movies of the year.
Probably would be in my top ten. The funniest film I’ve seen this year. Funniest film I’ve seen in many a year I’d say.
Only bad thing about it is Mike Tyson. He’s awful.
I enjoyed The Hangover. Some very funny moments (the baby wanking scene), but fairly forgettable overall. I Love You, Man was a far superior lads comedy.
Not a hope Darren. I Love You Man seemed like the same thing dragged out over an hour and a half. The only thing I remember from it is the “slappin the bass” comment. It was an alright film, but the Hangover was miles better.
@Ronan Nope - you’re wrong.