The Hangover

A friend of mine critiqued my critiques recently by pointing out that I'm not likely to have many negative reviews because I only write about the films I'm inclined to go see in the first place. Then I thought "Well, I did see The Hangover this summer." So here it goes. What a heap of mediocrity. Todd Phillips's latest attempt to be added to the annals of comedy (I think most people probably have already forgotten about Old School) is full of contrived plot devices, racism, rampant misogyny and missed opportunities, and just on the whole isn't terribly funny.

The story centers around a group of friends who take the trek from southern California to Vegas for a bachelor party (activating the "gotta get back by the wedding" plot device). They wake up hungover, their hotel room a mess, with their soon-to-be hubby nowhere to be found, and no recollection of how any of this came to be. But don't worry, by the end of the movie you'll find out even more than you needed or wanted to know about their reckless night of pre-marital debauchery.

The movie isn't without merit though, and his name is Zach Galifianakis, who single-handedly carries the film (and owns the best lines). Without him the characters are pretty much the meat-head Stifler-type and the nebbish decidedly unhip friend of the group, along with the likable, handsome, missing MacGuffin. It is disappointing though that the movie insists on singling Galifianakis's character out as the weirdo outsider, not to be confused with the "cool" that the rest of the characters embody. And this perfectly exemplifies the main flaw of the film; that it wants to be a daring, stand-out comedy, but is too self-conscious and eager to be accepted that it falls into the trappings of all the other "buddies who party together and get into shenanigans" movies of the past decade or so. I mean what would you expect from a movie about guys who can't remember their crazy night in Vegas beyond blacking out and marrying a stripper, rubbing elbows with the likes of Vegas celebrities such as Mike Tyson, or doing a Rainman scene? How about some originality, perhaps. C-

Other semi-related thoughts:

-You get the genius Jeffrey Tambor in there with a bit part and don't even give him any good lines? Come on!

-Just because a character is small, Chinese, and has a silly voice, doesn't mean making him swear and say lewd things will make him rounded or funny. It'll probably just come off as racist.

-Babies wearing shades are pretty funny.

-People need to stop thinking that they can re-create or improve upon the magic of Animal House. It's never gonna happen, try something else.