The Hangover: Better Than Citizen Kane and Maybe Even Step Brothers
My wife and I just got home from seeing The Hangover and let me say we haven't laughed so much together since we saw Dick Cheney on Face The Nation.
Part of the genius of The Hangover -- yeah, I said "genius," just like Ray Charles or those kids on "Big Bang Theory" -- is the wise and fiscally prudent casting decision to make some movie stars here rather than just pay for some. As I see it, this memorable and even moving Vegas bachelor party comedy -- directed by Todd Phillips -- becomes infinitely more believable and relatable because it's not just another vehicle for the familiar funny suspects, but rather an effective showcase for a second-tier supergroup of comedy talent.
For instance, Zach Galifianakis has been oddly brilliant for more than a decade now. Yet seven years after his VH1 talk show effectively snuffed out his first breakthrough moment, this masterful misfit finally arrives for the masses that seek their comedy not at Largo but at the local multiplex. Ed Helms is wonderful on a weekly basis on The Office -- this praise coming from a jerk who really did go to Cornell -- but he's just earned a huge promotion with his funny and sweet performance here.
Last but not least, Bradley Cooper is tonight officially a major movie star -- as I could tell from closely watching my wife closely watching his performance in The Hangover. Here's a guy who seems to be funny and good looking enough to split that vast distance between Bill Murray and Matthew McConaughey. I would love to be Bradley Cooper's agent tonight -- except for the being an agent part.
Tomorrow my wife and I will take the kids to Land of The Lost. Wish us luck. But tonight -- before we experience our inevitable Hollywood hangover -- we had a great night in Vegas.
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A sophomoric movie about a cliche is better than "Citizen Kane"??? Guess you thought the "American Pie" series was movie magic.
Sheesh....
Will see
Don't go see "Land of the Lost"... it will
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It will what?
Watched "Hangover" this weekend...
It has received amazingly good buzz. When we were inundated with ads for it when the LORD STANLEY CUP playoffs began, I thought, "Why are these great actors in what could only be a horrible movie!?" I love love love Helms and Cooper, and now can't wait to see it!
HuffPo comes through! At last, just the ammo I need to get my husband on board to see this puppy. I was convinced when I saw Zach G in the commercial - "Weird Wally! Weird Wally! Look, it's Weird Wally!" Sadly, my husband hadn't seen Below so he had no idea what I was gibbering about. Poor sap.
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That's why I'm here heermance - to provide ammo against other husbands.
We saw it in Alhambra last night, it was crazy funny!
Saw it this weekend and it caught me by surprise. great casting and the funniest movie I have seen in a long time. I do not, as a rule, buy movies on DVD. They have to be exceptional before I buy one after seeing it the theater. I WILL purchase this one!
very funny movie and the actors for once weren't trying to be funny they were funny - i was reminded about My Cousin Vinny - just great acting and the hilarity comes naturally. I was still laughing the next day recalling some scenes - and it's not a movie you can recall to someone they have to see it. The comedy flowed nicely thus creating a great comical tale. Great to see Zach showcase his comic talent and loved seeing Brad Cooper in a 'good guy' role. I think the movie depicted how buddies really act together - great script.
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CyndiC, you make a good point. For a modern comedy with absurd elements, it had a certain emotional reality about how friends behave with friends.
I want to write like you when I grow up - the emotional reality - that's exactly how i wish i had worded my 'review.'
P.S. please flame me for my "Cane" "Kane" typo.
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No, jackstpaul, I respect your very American right to not like the movie and spell Orson W's masterpiece anyway that you like
What? Didn't work for me. Better than your average "dumb comedy" but great? **1/2 out of 4 stars.
Actors were particularly bad. None came across as that funny. They're playing roles who are supposed to be caught in funny situations (they were funny situations) but performances were flat. Hard to be very funny when the actors/characters themselves don't seem funny.
Cooper? Not a funny moment of acting from the guy. He's the same in every movie--and not funny; straight man. Yes Man excepted. Bad as a comic figure. I think he’d o better with serious roles; I can see him better as a cop than a comic figure. He has an edge that I'm sure will work very well in serious flicks.
Absolute flaw in the movie: We don't see much of the funny situations. We HEAR about them as they are recited to the guys or as somehow they pick up clues, but we don't see much action that happened during the situations as it occurred. We don't see the initial “funny” part in the Chapel; we see the not-funny follow-up. Scenes with Tyson were good—we see them as they occur. Show us, don’t tell us about the situations. With all of that, the best actor in it was the groom, but given the plot, he was out of the picture for most of it.
Are comedy flicks so bad these days that this is considered “great?”
Yes, though, better than Citizen Cane.
Haven't seen it yet but plan to, the nearest theater is 75 miles away! Living in the sticks sux!
I knew Bradley Cooper had it going on, so to speak, with his great performance in the first season of ALIAS. He played a reporter and friend of spy Sidney. I am glad he is having success, because I feared his leaving that show too soon would be the premature end of a career for him.
Get the DVD of Nip/Tuck. Cooper hilariously plays a total tool, self-centered pretty boy actor.
He's better in KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL. "Recipe for failure: take one part stellar education, two parts natural talent, mix with generous amounts of booze, drugs, and women, and immediately set on fire."
Finally got to see this film last night with my wife and a few friends and I thought it was insanely hilarious. We could not stop talking about the countless classic scenes after we got out. I was a bit worried though with the huge marketing machine and numerous trailers on the web and on TV. None the less, this movie did not disappoint. My wife and I have been fans of Zach Galifianakis since his appearance on Letterman some time ago and it was great to finally see him in a bigger role on film. And I have to agree with you on Bradley Cooper, he was great as well. That dude is a stud. And I hope he does land that Green Lantern role. And one other thing, the end credits of The Hangover has to be one of the best ever devised. By the way I loved that Dick Cheney line you threw in there. I'm gonna use that if you don't mind.
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Take that line and run with it -- Tyrant!
The film that I measure all others against is......., "Bad Santa" or the director's cut, "Badder Santa"
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You may be right. For instance, "8 1/2" is about a 9, but "Bad Santa" is at least a 10.
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