Here is a movie that has "word of mouth hit" written over it. The Hangover is not afraid to embrace it's R-rating, and can sometimes be crude. But it is never offensive, and is extremely likable throughout. It's also absolutely hilarious. It's the kind of movie where the laughs actually build. First, you laugh at the set up, then the movie surprises you by actually living up to its potential with nearly every gag. The fact that a lot of the things the characters say is actually funny helps, also. When you see as many failed comedies as I do, seeing a movie with big laughs throughout is a true blessing.

Much like this year's earlier release, I Love You, Man, The Hangover can best be described as a "bro-mantic comedy". This is the better movie, though. It's a story about three guys bonding during a Las Vegas outing that turns disastrous. It may not exactly be a deep movie, but the three friends have their charm, and actually endear themselves to us over time. The guys in question are Phil (Bradley Cooper), the unofficial leader of the three, Alan (Zach Galifianakis, wonderful here), whose bushy beard and stocky frame hide a child-like innocence, and Stu (Ed Helms), a neurotic and henpecked dentist who has managed to convince himself he is happy with his controlling live-in girlfriend (Rachael Harris), and even plans to propose to her, even though she frequently ridicules him and avoids his advances for affection. They come to Vegas for a bachelor party, as their shared friend Doug (Justin Bartha) is just two days away from getting married. They check into a $4,000+ suite, and prepare for the night of their lives.

At least that's the last thing they remember before they wake up in the morning, discovering that the suite has been completely turned upside down, and they can't remember a thing from the night before, since they spent most of it in a drug and alcohol-fueled binge. Doug, the groom-to-be, has mysteriously gone missing, there's a tiger in the bathroom, Stu is missing a tooth, and there's an abandoned baby in the closet. Phil, Alan, and Stu find themselves racing around Vegas, piecing together the few vague clues they discover about what happened, and just where Doug could be. During that night, Stu apparently married a sexy but sweet-natured hooker (Heather Graham), they stole a police car, for some reason there's a very angry naked Asian man locked in the trunk of that car, and they somehow broke into Mike Tyson's private mansion, and stole his prized tiger. Tyson's appearance has been heavily promoted in the film's ad campaign, but what it does not show is just what a good sport he is, ridiculing his own image in what is actually a minor supporting role, rather than the glorified cameo I was expecting.

The thin premise, which mostly revolves the guys running around looking for answers, leads to some genuinely funny scenes, such as when they find themselves unwilling participants in a stun gun demonstration, or when they have to transport the drugged tiger back to Tyson's house. It's more than the situations, though. The movie has a real ear for dialogue. It's not the usual snappy one liners, though there are plenty of those. There's an intelligence to the humor that lets you know some thought was put into it. Surprisingly, the screenplay is credited to Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, whose past efforts include the average Four Christmases, and the awful Ghosts of Girlfriends Past from just last month. My only explanation is that their minds were on other things when they were writing those, and this movie somehow liberated them. (Although I've heard there were a lot of script changes on the set, so I could be wrong.) There are moments where the laughs and the energy sag a little, but they don't last long.

More than the writing, it is the chemistry and energy of the cast that draws us in. The movie's been perfectly cast, and in Zach Galifianakis (an actor who's been working for over 10 years, but makes his first big impression here), it's found a star who is sure to win over just about anyone who watches it. His portrayal of the crude but sweet and simple-minded Alan is the perfect mixture of vulgarity and charm. He's the kind of guy who can be amused by the tiniest things, and genuinely seems disappointed when he finds out that the real Caesar does not live in the Caesar's Palace hotel and casino. But, he's also genuinely concerned about the missing Doug, and doesn't want to let his new friends down. Also likable is Ed Helms, who is funny and sympathetic as the put-upon Stu, who learns how to stand up for himself and truly live during the course of the film. He also gets some sweet moments with Heather Graham, so much so that I wish they had more screen time together. Helms is a comic actor who has been cursed with some film clunkers in the past, such as last summer's Eddie Murphy flop, Meet Dave. This movie and role will hopefully turn the tide.
As I was watching The Hangover, I was delighted to discover that I wasn't the only one getting big laughs out of it. The entire audience was, and that's a wonderful shared experience. I have a strong feeling that this will join the ranks of Superbad, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Tropic Thunder as adult summer comedies that grow due to word of mouth. That's my hope, anyway. I, for one, know that I'll be telling people about this movie. Hopefully it finds its place amongst the blockbusters.

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