The Hangover (2009) Movie Review

The Hangover is something every drinker fears, but fear not the movie my late-nighters; it will make you laugh until your pee your pants. Hmmm…. okay maybe you should be a little scared then, because that will be a bit of an ugly mess, wouldn’t it? Writers Jon Lewis and Scott Moore teamed up with director Todd Phillips to bring us what is hands-down the funniest movie of 2009.

Quick. Your buddy is getting married. What part of the activities are you most looking forward to? Now if you’re a guy, than we can eliminate the ceremony right away. Most guys look for an excuse to skip the church part, even when they are in the wedding. A few guys out there might have said the reception and who can blame them as Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn have proven they are filled with free alcohol and a ton of women. For some reason, that is a lethal combination for most men. However, I’m guessing most men picked the time-treasured tradition of a bachelor party as the best part of their buddy getting married.

I don’t know how us guys pulled it off, but somehow we got women to not only be okay with, but to expect us to partake in what equals a get out of jail free card. “Hunny, the kids need to get their baths.” “I’m sorry dear I would do it except for I have that thing for Roger tonight. You know with it being his wedding and all next weekend.” Then she says something like this; “Oh, is that tonight. I’m sorry hunny, I will take care of the kids. Make sure Roger has a good time and you be good, okay?” This is where you really pour it on thick. “Of course I will dear, you know I’m not even sure I really want to go and all, but I’m afraid it would bother Roger. I mean what’s it look like if I don’t show?”

In the movie, The Hangover, four friends take to Las Vegas to explore this marital right of passage. They wake up the next morning only to find they have a few problems. Number one, they can’t remember a single thing about last night. Now that must have been a heck of a party. Then they also have this little problem with having a few uninvited guests in their hotel room. No big worry; it’s just a tiger and a baby. That happens all the time right?

Time to check out. Wait a minute something is missing? There are only three of us. Who is missing? Oh, it’s just Doug. It’s not like he is the one that is getting married today or anything. Crap, that’s right, he is. The three friends must now retrace their last night’s steps and find Doug, which might be a bit hard since they can’t remember a darn thing.

Congratulations Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha. These four actors were all relatively unknowns on the big screen before this movie, but played off of each other incredibly bringing a grade “A” slapstick comedy to the screen. Make sure to watch the credits or you will miss some hilarious and kind of gross stuff. Great news for everybody that loved this movie as much as me, Hangover 2 is currently in development! I’m going to rate this movie as an 8.5 out of 10.

Could You Imagine Will Ferrell or John C. Reilly Being Your Step Brother?

I imagine most of you said that would be awesome. That wasn't quite the reaction we get from Will and John's characters in this movie and who can blame them. It means having to share the spotlight. Step Brothers is a 2008 film scribed by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. They had teamed up in the past on Anchorman and one of my favorite Will Ferrell movies, Talladega Nights.

The movie's plot is as simple as they come. Brennen Huff (Ferrell) is an unemployed 39 year old that still lives at home with his mother and loves every minute of living like he is 16 on a permanent summer vacation. Dale Doback (Reilly) is an unemployed 40 year old still mooching off his doctor father. Their parents fall in love and Brennen and Dale become stepbrothers. Neither of them is even close to okay with this idea and start off mortal enemies. Which of course, they later overcome to become best friends.

Now I love slapstick comedies but even those have to have some plot to them to keep me intrigued and as one can tell from that description there isn't much here to work with. However, I thought the movie was pretty good. Why this change in attitude? Although the plot lacks most of the slapstick humor hits squarely on the funny bone. Dale stays at home because he dropped out of college to join the family business. His dad is a doctor! My favorite quote of the movie has to be "right now,I don't want to kick you in the head quite as much.” After all this talk of Ferrell and Reilly I would feel I wronged her if I didn't mention Mary Steenburgen, the actress that played the mother, Nancy Huff. The second the movie started I was like there is no way she looks old enough to play a mother of a 39 year old. Well something to keep in mind while watching this film is Steenburgen was 45 years old when this movie filmed. I couldn't believe she was over 45.

I should warn everybody that this movie has an absolutely ridiculous amount of swearing in it and it has Will Ferrell who we all know doesn't like to keep his clothes on. Not that he would do anything sick like rub his testacles on a drum set or anything. Will Ferrell fans will love it and of course his haters will want to poke their eyes out. Overall, I would give this movie a 7 out of 10.