The Hangover

The celebratory ritual known as the Bachelor Party has been the focus of several movies, due entirely to the ripe comic potential of such an event. But while most movies that share this theme predictably show the escalation of the big night's debaucherous madness, the latest cinematic take on this material offers a new approach to telling the same story. Instead of focusing on the ups and downs of the party itself, The Hangover turns its attention to the party's aftermath, which has the main characters waking up to learn that they remember nothing from the night before. The result is a likeable comedy that has enough fun with the concept to translate the silly shenanigans into enjoyable entertainment.

In the beginning, the plot moves at a brisk pace that still leaves some room for character development. We are introduced to Doug (Justin Bartha), who is getting married in two days and is about to enjoy his Bachelor Party in Las Vegas. Doug's entourage includes his moronic future brother-in-law Alan (Zack Galifianakis), his cocky teacher buddy Phil (Bradley Cooper), and his straight-laced dentist friend Stu (Ed Helms). Following their brief introductions, the four friends hit the road and head to Vegas, where the movie quickly fast-forwards to the morning after the party.

As Alan, Phil, and Stu wake up to discover that there is a tiger in their bathroom and a baby in their closet (among other strange things, like a live chicken and a missing tooth for Stu), they figure that the night before had been a wild one. But each of the clues in their hotel room offer only confusion, since the trio of men have no memory of anything from the party. Adding to the pile of frustration and bewilderment is the fact that Doug is nowhere to be found.

From here on out, Alan, Phil, and Stu work together to make sense of the puzzle that was the night before. As the clock ticks closer to the wedding day, the trio's search for answers and especially for Doug begins to intensify in the sweltering desert heat. Their journey is little more than a series of comic situations taped together by contemporary hit music, but the script (credited to Jon Lucas and Scott Moore) has enough imagination to make the Bachelor Party mystery worth paying attention to.

Director Todd Phillips has been down this type of road before, having directed the goofy, male-driven comedies Road Trip and Old School. Looking at his filmography (he also directed the big-screen adaptation of Starsky & Hutch and has a sequel to Old School in the works), I cannot imagine Phillips ever stretching beyond the cozy boundaries of this type of comedy. But while he isn't about to branch out and try anything new, at least he's pretty good at what he does. The Hangover is directed with all of the flair and efficiency of a veteran playing with the same bag of tricks.

With Phillips behind the camera, the movie has a comic energy that fits the material and the concept. His direction is one of the few elements keeping the movie afloat, but it also ensures that The Hangover will be relatively satisfying without ever deserving more glowing accolades. I have troubles mustering up too much enthusiasm for Phillips' work, but at the same time, I have little to hate about his movies, too. As a filmmaker, Phillips executes his movies directly down the middle, where they exist as good, but certainly not great, collections of comedy. The Hangover is entirely cut from the same cloth as Road Trip and Old School, but at least Phillips knows how to construct a funny movie so that it makes the most of its concept, even if it never transcends it.

One of the most encouraging elements of The Hangover is that it is a character-driven comedy. The success of the movie rests mainly in the hands of Galifianakis, Cooper, and Helms, each of whom approach their role with the commitment and attitude of three guys who are ready to be movie stars. Since the majority of the story revolves around this trio of men feeling the crushing consequences of their actions, each actor has multiple times to shine.

Galifianakis has the silliest and most ridiculous role to play, but for all of his random comic comments, he takes the character one step further and gives him a dramatic dimension that prevents Alan from being a one-note joke. Cooper has a cool-guy swagger that signals a solid big-screen presence and Helms makes the mental unravelling of straight-laced Stu a convincing collapse. Each actor does their part as an individual, while also pulling together to create an engaging ensemble that prevents the movie from becoming another generic, unfunny comedy.

With its impressive cast and experienced director, The Hangover is a fun movie that at least makes good on its promise of laughs. It is not a hilarious movie, nor a particularly memorable one, but it is better than much of the stuff that passes for comedy nowadays (I'm looking at you, Will Ferrell). The Bachelor Party movie has been given a modern upgrade and The Hangover will surely act as both a warning and a dare to future Bachelor Party plans. It may become a cult classic for a new generation, but for me, it's just a funny movie with enough spirit and character-driven narrative to put a smile on my face.