The Hangover (2009)

Todd Phillips's comedy The Hangover released in 2009 found its place among the most successful projects of the year with total gross of over $467 million. The hilarious movie revolves around 4 young men on their wrong side of 30, who go to Las Vegas to spend the best night in their lives before one of them gets married. The company is quite motley: Stu (Ed Helms), a nervous dentist suffering under the heel of his tyrannical girlfriend, Phil (Bradley Cooper), a cheeky schoolteacher, Alan (Zach Galifianakis), an infantile bride's brother and the most outstanding personage of the four, with psychological problems and criminal inclinations. And, finally, Doug (Justin Billings), the handsome groom, who seems at first glance quite normal and not at all remarkable. I tell you as a secret: you practically won't see him anymore in the movie. Doug's future father-in-law hands him solemnly the key of an expensive retro Mercedes (as the greatest sign of trust) and hints that the guys should have a good time in all senses. The friends come to Vegas, rent a suite in an expensive hotel, Alan reads a droll toast to friendship and… that's all. Further there's an absolute memory loss. The previous night has dropped out of their heads. The room turned upside down, no frontal tooth in Stu's mouth and no Doug. That's the result. Then the guys discover some new things: a chicken, a tiger in the bathroom and a crying baby. The following part of the film represents a real quest: little by little Phil, Stu and Alan put together pieces of the last-night puzzle to find Doug who is to wed in several hours. The spectators will split their sides with laughter and see the most stunning things: a charming prostitute (Heather Gram), a naked Chinese springing out the car trunk, even Mike Tyson in person with his master stroke. And, of course, Vegas would not be Vegas without an exciting poker game with a pretty penny at stake.

The Hangover proved a complete success and got a number of prizes, among which are the American Film Institute Award in the Top 100 Movies category and the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award as the Best Comedy Film. And these awards are not at all surprising; apart from being undoubtedly a very funny comedy, The Hangover has lots of advantages. The actors play is barnstorming; the panorama of Las Vegas is breathtaking. Though a comedy, The Hangover continuously keeps the spectator in suspense.

On the other hand the film is a bit predictable. The heroes get a cool car and it's easy to guess that according to the laws of the genre it will be crashed. They put the tiger to sleep with the help of soporific, and you know already that the beast will for sure wake up in the wrong time. However, this slight predictability turns into another advantage: such moments are expected with particular pleasure and impatience.
When the movie reaches its end, the spectators may feel a little bit disappointed, because they are actually shown only the hangover with the whole crazy stag party remaining behind the scenes, except the episode of tiger abduction, which has been screened. But in the end the guys find a digital camera which has preserved all their adventures. While watching the photos both the guys and the viewers will roar with laughter.

After the comedy role of Phil Bradley Cooper proved that he is a serious actor in a fantastic drama Limitless (2011), where he appears in the leading part, and Ed Helms tried himself as a producer in Cedar Rapids and Jeff Who Lives at Home (both 2011).

The Hangover movie has already become a classic comedy not only for the audience, but also for the filmmakers. Paul Feig has already made his move by creating Bridesmaids (2011), a movie about a hen party in Las Vegas. This movie has lots of parallels with The Hangover, which proved successful enough to inspire a sequel The Hangover Part II (2011).