The Hangover Matt Smith 16 June, 2009 - 3:56 PM

The Hangover

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Stu Price.

'The Hangover' sees three best friends and a brother-in-law to be head to Las Vegas for the buck's nights of all buck's nights. When they awake the state of the room and the missing groom ensure they have more to worry about than just a killer hangover.

Films about buck's nights in Sin City are hardly a new phenomenon. The 1999 film 'Very Bad Things'  is probably the best example of sub-genre in recent memory but where that film ventured into very dark places, 'The Hangover' instead opts for non-stop laughs. The film is as lewd and crude as you would imagine considering the subject matter, but most importantly it is funny, side-splitting funny in fact.

It also takes a different path to telling the story by starting the action when the guys wake up instead of focusing on the debauchery of the night before. Those with a voyeuristic nature may feel like they are missing out on something, but never fear, all is revealed over time. The boys set out on an adventure to piece together what happened the night before and get the groom back in time for his wedding.

They soon discover their night was more eventful than they could ever possibly imagine. It seems they have acquired the pet tiger of an ex-heavyweight boxing champion, their convertible has been exchanged for a police car and they have crossed a local Asian gangster with an affinity for street wise banter.  On top of all this, they have to take care of an infant somehow left in their hotel room the night before.

The greatest strengths of the film are the performances from the relatively unknown cast. The most recognisable actor Bradley Cooper (Sack from Wedding Crashes) puts in a stellar performance as alpha male Phil. Ed Helms is solid as Stu Price, a dentist who endures a torturous relationship with an overbearing girlfriend. Justin Bartha is perfect as groom Doug, a man who aims to please.

Despite these excellent performances the star of the show is definitely Zach Galifanakis who plays Doug's brother-in-law to be Alan. The heavily bearded Alan is a very simple man, who just longs for acceptance from his new friends. Unfortunately his preposterous behaviour and bizarre mannerisms make him an extremely hard man for the boys to bond with.

If there is a problem with the film it comes in the form of some very strange cameo appearances. Heather Graham (Roller Girl from Boogie Nights) pops up as single mother, stripper and new wife to one of the boys.  Her fleeting performance seems forced and unnecessary. As does Mike Tyson's cameo, which proves that as an actor he was a great boxer.

Despite these minor hiccups 'The Hangover' is one hell of a ride which manages to be funny for its entire running time. I cannot recall seeing another film in recent history where the audience walked out of the film literally in pain from laughing so much, myself included. It is not the smartest film you will see this year, but it is the first true contender for funniest film of the year.

Four and a half stars out of Five.

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