If you're familiar with Peter Berg's 1998 movie Very Bad Things then you don't really need to see this year's The Hangover from Old School helmer Todd Phillips.
It's the same basic plot of mates going to Vegas for a Stag Party (that's Batchelor Party for the Yanks) and it all going horribly wrong.
Despite the similarities in premise, the tone of The Hangover's a lot lighter. Like Road Trip and Old School, it's played with a down-to-earth, natural quality that's punctuated by crazy characters, foul language and laugh-out-loud moments at frequent intervals. It's quite amusing and very likable but doesn't stick in the memory for long afterwards. Perhaps I shouldn't have seen Berg's 1998 classic before hand, but it's beyond me why this pleasent comedy is one of the biggest hits in the States this year.
1 comment:
Just watched this. It was ok. Nothing special. I think I laughed out loud maybe once with a few minor chuckles here and there.
The cast are adequate with none being particularly funny or stand out. The story is a much simpler and less interesting version of the vastly superior Very Bad Things. Todd Phillips is certainly a good comedy director but not a great one. IMHO his best work to date is Old School and that is mainly down to the excellent cast. Who can forget Will Ferrell's Frank the Tank and his "We're going streaking!" And the bit where he accidentally shoots himself with animal tranquilliser. Now THAT'S funny! Nothing in The Hangover comes even close.
Quite how this has made over $250 million in the US alone is beyond me. It's ok. But that's as far as it goes.
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