The Hangover (2009)

Director:

Todd Phillips

Writers (WGA):

Jon Lucas (written by) &
Scott Moore (written by)

Release Date:

5 June 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Some guys just can't handle Vegas

Plot:

A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Party | Las Vegas | Morning After | Teacher

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Bradley Cooper	...	Phil Wenneck
Ed Helms	...	Stu Price
Zach Galifianakis	...	Alan Garner
Justin Bartha	...	Doug Billings
Heather Graham	...	Jade
Sasha Barrese	...	Tracy Garner
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Sid Garner
Ken Jeong	...	Mr. Chow
Rachael Harris	...	Melissa
Mike Tyson	...	Himself
Mike Epps	...	Black Doug
Jernard Burks	...	Leonard
Rob Riggle	...	Officer Franklin
Cleo King	...	Officer Garden
Bryan Callen	...	Eddie Palermo

Also Known As:

Hangover (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.

Runtime:

99 min | 108 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45241) | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Finland:K-13 | Iceland:12 | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA (cut) | USA:Unrated (unrated version) | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:12 (f) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:16 | Mexico:B15 | India:A | Brazil:14 | UK:18 (DVD version) | Australia:R (DVD version) | Australia:R (extended version) | South Korea:18 | Turkey:15+

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

During filming in Las Vegas, one of the Mercedes (a very beat up and distinctive one) was stolen from the lot where the vehicles were being kept. The next day the production was filming driving sequences and traffic was being held up by the local police. A production person noticed that a very distinctive Mercedes was part of the cars being held, the police were told, the driver was arrested and the car was recovered.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the guys change their money at the blackjack table, the dealer turns his head around to call out the change. Casino dealers are not allowed to turn their head away from the table.

Quotes:

Stu Price: We don't want to call attention to ourselves!
Phil Wenneck: [while driving a squad car on the sidewalk and using the loudspeaker] Attention! Attention!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Who Let the Dogs Out

The Unchecked Id

Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper fall so perfectly into the circumstances of a night out without the wife/girlfriend—a bachelor party, no less—that we're all happy we're safe in the audience clucking our tongues but secretly envying every single moment (one that includes the ever watchable Heather Graham). These boys fall and fall hard, and trying to pick up the pieces of a night they strangely can't remember brought more laughs than the last time I laughed this consistently (that was "There's Something About Mary").

The cast never forgets that they are actors here and not on an episode of "Jackass" as Apatow's comedies often feel. There's tight control on the dialog and we never descend into simple slapstick. Oh, there's broad humor, but we're watching terrific actors in very broad situations. The trailer is a perfect sample of what you're going to get, although it may veer into raunch perhaps a little more than the trailer hints. But it's never just sensationalism, because I can—regrettably, I confess—relate to waking up in a room with a chicken and not knowing exactly from whence it came.

Galifiankis has the most unique character (well, besides a naked Chinese fellow, but you can discover that one for yourself) and he's wonderful to watch. Not everything he does comes off 100%, but when he scores, it's so far out from our own comfort zone, that when the jaws of the other characters drop, we're right there with them. Rachel Harris deserves special mention as the girlfriend who demonstrates why marriage can be so fearful.

This is as tidy a script as "My Best Friend's Wedding" and just as beautifully shot. The cinematography could be pulled from any of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce ads, and it only adds to our confidence that whatever is coming around the next corner, we don't have to worry that it will wreck all that's gone before. The makers of this little gem are as much in control as the characters are out of control, and it was joy to finally get a great farce that we're very sorry to see end. I see that "Hangover, 2" is in development, and I hope lighting strikes twice.

(The standard for wedding singer has been set. Anyone want to top this?)