Finally a movie Las Vegas can be proud of
Written: Jul 01 '09
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: For comedy the acting doesn't get much better, good use of Las Vegas
Cons: It's all been done before
The Bottom Line: A nicely enjoyable summer comedy.
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| musicc's Full Review: The Hangover |
Along with New York, movies are frequently shot in Las Vegas. However, most of the time these movies are stereotypical, predictable, and bland. Last year's 21 was terrible and What Happens in Vegas just wasn't very good. There are some good films to remember Vegas by, Casino and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are great films but they don't seem to come around all too often. The Hangover manages to use Vegas and succeed because of it. Now its not the best comedy of the year or the funniest but it is generally pretty good and is a good summer flick. Its nothing new and the plot has been done before various times in different forms but what sets this film apart from the thousands of other films in its genre is the acting. I have never seen acting in a comedy this good in a long while.
Doug Billings is about to get married but before he does he has his bachelor party in Las Vegas with his two good friends, Phil Wenneck and Stu Price. Also coming along is his future Brother in Law Alan Garner. Once in Vegas they get a nice suite and get ready for a night of partying. It is now the next day as they wake up in their now completely trashed suite, a tiger in the bathroom, and a baby in the closet, and Doug is gone. Once Phil, Stu, and Alan see the predicament they are in they must retrace their steps to find out what exactly happened that night. As they learn more and more they start to see just how much trouble they are in.
The plot is not bad but its not exactly new. Friends getting drunk and not remembering anything has been done before (Dude wheres my car?) but it is executed with enough excitement to keep the worn out plot trend fresh. The writing is funny enough but the acting makes the film. The acting is easily the strongest aspect of the movie and is the main reason why 90% of the jokes work so well. Whats most surprising about this is that I have not heard of most of the cast or even seen them in too many films. With the exception of Ed Helms I did not recognize more than a couple names but it did not matter they all did terrific work.
Justin Barth is the main actor in the movie and although he is missing for a majority of it he does a fine job and is quite a likable person. As a character he is probably the most well rounded and he feels natural in his role. Bradley Cooper is great as Phil who excels at playing the more risk taker and jerk of the group while still retaining a heart and dignity. Ed Helms best known from the Office where he is hilarious there is just as funny in his first starring role. He has a lot of charm and is a likable person. He gets a lot of laughs as his neurotic side but transforms into an opposite person with ease while still remaining just as likable. The funniest role of the movie belongs to Zach Galifianakis who plays Alan. He is a creepy bother in law who really shines throughout the movie. Along with getting some of the best lines he has a great physical appearance and is quite likable. As I watched I him I was reminded more and more of the "Dude" from the Big Lebowski since he looked just like a fatter version of Jeff Bridges. together these four actors come together and share a remarkable on screen presence, no one overshadows one another instead working together off each others jokes and the result is amazing. They aren't perfect people but we like them and they do a great job in their roles.
Besides the acting the sets and location are used to the fullest advantage of the film. Las Vegas is a great location for a movie and after quite a few failed attempts this one is a worthy Vegas flick. The editing is well done as the use of speeding up time is well executed. The shots are well timed and Todd Phillips has been directing comedies for a while now and seems to only improve with each one.
The Hangover is a good comedy and a nice one to start off the summer season. I wouldn't go as far to say its the best comedy of the year or the funniest but for what it is, it is an enjoyable piece of entertainment. It has already been given the green light for a sequel so expect another one in a few years. The jokes are decent but made much better than the acting. The situations are humorous and the premise is funny, but in the end its nothing we haven't seen before. However the acting easily places this movie above most comedies in its genre. They are all great performances and I hope to see these actors in other projects. When it came out about a month ago all my friends raved about it calling it the funniest movie since Superbad and one of the best ones of the year. I think I was right in believing it to be overrated but that doesn't mean it is bad, just means it was a victim to over hype. In the end, for a comedy in today's market I would say you could do much much worse, and its nice to see a movie taking place in Las Vegas that actually succeeds because of that fact.
4 stars
Bradley Cooper - Phill Wenneck
Ed Helms - Stu Price
Zach Galifianakis - Alan Garner
Justin Barthra - Doug Billings
Heather Graham - Jade
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Funny Movie
Viewing Method: Studio Screening/Premiere
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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Epinions.com ID:
musicc
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Member: Max Mosher
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Reviews written: 273
Trusted by: 39 members
About Me:
Going to film school in Canada, lots of fun, trying to keep up with Epinions.
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