Successful comedies generally run the route of cult favorite; flopping in the view of mainstream audiences but saved by devout and obsessive fans that look for more than special effects and a political message. Such is not the case with the 2009 epic “The Hangover” which captured worldwide praise from viewers, devoured hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, and launched the careers of the three stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis, with its non politically correct front and its downright funny story.
The iconic comedy reveals a simple yet effective premise; a group of friends waking up in Las Vegas in the aftermath of a bachelor party gone awry. It’s something anyone who has had one too many drinks can certainly relate to, and the friends at play are perfectly balanced as regular though slightly offbeat guys. The simplicity of the story itself is an obvious prelude to adventure and fun, and what unfolds next is a series of comedy brilliance.
“The bachelor party got out of control, and we lost Doug,” Phil (Cooper) regretfully explains to Tracy over the phone to start the story. The distraught future-bride advises that she and Doug were set to be married in five hours. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”
We’re offered a brief glimpse at the characters’ backstories, but one that is thin and efficient in a limited way, never once requiring us to yield laughs in the process. Director Todd Phillips does a masterful job in “The Hangover”, revealing the story with a non-linear setting to open and the characters involved remembering the previous night’s events in bits and pieces – the way an actual person who drank too much would slowly recall crazy things that were said and done the previous night.
Perfect looks aside, Bradley Cooper unloads a hysterical performance that’s one for the ages. Phil is the best friend of bachelor Doug (Justin Bartha) and the clear cut coolest member of the group. While the obvious ladies’ man of the pack, Phil is the driving force behind the boys weekend in Vegas and delivers line after line of comedic gold. Cooper pairs well with Ed Helms (TV’s ‘The Office’) who serves as the straight man of the pack, Stu. Stu brings his own baggage to the weekend in the form of an overly controlling and terrible girlfriend that he cowers away from, much to the chagrin of Phil.
Rounding out the trio is the highly recognizable Zach Galifianakis as the bushy-bearded soon-to-be brother-in-law, Alan. Galifianakis displays Alan’s quirks and demonstrative abnormalities flawlessly as a touching character that just want to fit in. “We shouldn’t let him gamble. Or drink too much.” Doug explains to Phil. “Jesus, he’s like a gremlin. Comes with instructions and shit.” Galifianakis is so good one watching can easily get the impression that he isn’t really acting in the role of Alan, that he’s just being himself. The group of men presented are a perfect motley crew of characters, and one that mirrors any real life set of buds in diversity and personal flare.
The comradery of the men is what really makes the movie work. They deliver comical lines in the face of the absurdities that continue to mount around them, but you never forget that they are just a group of friends that, like the rest of us, haven’t fully succumbed to maturity of adulthood. “Paging Doctor Faggot!” Phil yells from the road when they arrive to pick up Stu.
“The Hangover” is an all time great comedy movie. Don’t be fooled by the short running time of 1:40 – you’ll need to factor in the countless rewind and re-watch scenes, of which there are many.
by – Matt DeCristo
