The Hangover

How ironic is it that on the weekend that Old School director Todd Phillips returns to form by making hilarious R-rated comedies, his former Old School star Will Ferrell drops a PG-13 stinker? Well, not that ironic, I guess, but it’s worth pointing out that while Ferrell seems to be sinking his career by choosing movies like Land of the Lost, Phillips delivers a real crowd pleaser, and in the process likely makes the career of his lead actors. Using the same three friend dynamic that made Old School one of the movies I’ve laughed the hardest at, Phillips creates the perfect summer comedy, overflowing with laughter and fun. This is not exactly the type of film that lends itself to an extensive review, but there are things worth mentioning.

Anyone who goes into The Hangover expecting any sort of depth, plot, or development will be sorely disappointed, but those who go in looking to see the hijinks that result as three guys go searching for their missing friend will have a blast. Now, I know that I’ve been critical in the past of comedies (notably I Love You, Man) that only play for laughs and don’t provide any real characters or arcs, but the reason that I don’t hold it against this movie (rather, I praise it) is because at no point does it pretend to be anything other than a mindless fun comedy. At no point does it masquerade as a dramedy, or try to give us unearned heartfelt moments between the characters. If it had tried to develop these characters, the movie wouldn’t have worked, given the sheer ridiculousness of the plot. This is a fun movie, a comedy with no mind for sense, that delivers on exactly what it promises.

The movie dies without strong performances from its three leads. Bradley Cooper, who I’ve been saying deserves to be more famous for awhile now, is great as the “cool friend”, but it is his character that really grounds the movie. He’s the closest thing to a real person we get, and Cooper is able to balance his role as the movies only tie to reality with some of the outrageous stunts he’s asked to perform over the course of the movie (example: he dry humps a tiger). Ed Helms is perfect as the nerdy, doctor friend. We first see Helms in a conversation with his girlfriend, Rachael Harris, and it is squirm inducing. Helms plays pathetic so perfectly and despite only having a few scenes, Harris is one of the funniest parts as the domineering girlfriend. As good as Cooper and Helms are as the “normal” friends, it is Zach Galifianakis who steals the show as the friend who’s “not all there”. He delivers his lines so deadpan and serious that it really underscores the ridiculousness and hilarity of what he is saying.

Without Galifianakis, the movie would struggle from situation to situation. The set up of the movie is basically a series of stops that the gang must go on as they try to find the friend they lost the night before. Although the stops are funny, the movie really would have suffered if not for some good comedic dialogue and great delivery on the part of the cast (again, especially Galifianakis) the movie would lose its mood.

I don’t really have much else to comment on. The Hangover is a very fun movie, though it’s not the definitive comedy of the summer. I’m expecting that to be Funny People, but The Hangover accomplishes what it set out to do. It may not stick with you for years to come, and it won’t be finishing on my year end Top 10 list, but I guarantee you’ll laugh a ton and you’ll be quoting it as soon as you leave the theater.