Over the past few years, quality comedy has been dominated by films either from the Judd Apatow camp or from those attempting to duplicate the Apatow formula. These films invariably deal with human interactions and relationships. In short, they are a mash-up of comedy and romance into a new form of romantic comedy that marries the vulgar and the heartfelt in a way that hits home in a way not seen before.
Now along comes The Hangover, a film that deals with some human interactions, but is as far from romance as can be. Instead of mashing comedy and romance, we get a blend of comedy and mystery in a film that proves to be very funny as it keeps you guessing as to just what happened. It is proof that comedy can exist in other forms on the modern screen and still deliver the goods.
For my money Apatow has directed or produced the best comedies of the past few years. Films like I Love You Man, Knocked Up, Superbad, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall are movies I can pretty much watch anytime. On the other hand, we also get "comedies" like Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, What Happens in Vegas, and The Love Guru. It is almost enough to shake one's faith in the viability of the genre. However, moving past the hyperbole, comedies are very hit and miss with so many landing on miss that when we get something like The Hangover, we may not know whether to welcome it or not.
As The Hangover begins, we find Phil (Bradley Cooper) on the phone telling Tracy (Sasha Barrese) that things got a little out of hand at the bachelor party and they lost her fiance, Doug (Justin Bartha). All I can say is that it must have been one heck of a night. The remaining party-goers, Allen (Zach Galifianakis) and Stu (Ed Helms), stand in the background, none of them looking all that good under the bright sun of the desert outside of Las Vegas. Then we cut to three days earlier.
Doug is getting the final fitting done for his tuxedo in preparation for his wedding. With him is Allan, his fiance's odd brother. The two share a moment as they discuss the upcoming bachelor party. They then head off in his soon-to-be father-in-law's prize Mercedes convertible. They pick up Phil as he finishes up his last class (he's a school teacher), followed by Stu, a dentist and the submissive in his current relationship. Together, the quartet head off for Vegas.
Article comments
1 - Virginia McDowell
Absolutely the best comedy ever! I really enjoyed it as I laughed out loud throughout the whole movie. Well written and superb cast!
A++