The Hangover
Alright everyone, what’s the deal with this movie? So many people said that it is really great. I thought it was kinda entertaining but seriously nothing special.
The premise of the story is easy: Four guys are celebrating a bachelor party in Las Vegas, they wake up the next morning and don’t remember anything about the night before. Their hotel room is destroyed, they are mysteriously rooming with a tiger and a chicken and one of the guys (the one who is supposed to get married) is missing. The three guys that are still there go on a quest to find their missing friend and to find out what happened the night before.
(Spoilers!) Apart from the tiger who turns out to belong to Mike Tyson nothing truly original happened though. One guy got married to an escort girl (Heather Graham), they accidentally stole casino chips from a Chinese mobster and had a party with a lot of stripper like looking girls. These seem like the obvious Vegas choices to me. Some scenes are moderately funny but I never actually laughed out loud.
I’m not sure I want to get into the acting because there basically was none. Obviously I don’t know the actors personally but it seemed like pure typecasting to me. The “stupid” guy was a bit funnier then the others but he over-acted the role for my taste. I can see how the movie could possibly be amusing when you are with a group of friends having a few drinks. But I am so glad that I didn’t watch it at the cinema!
And why on earth did it get a Golden Globe? For what? How did they justify this decision? I mean, it ran against (500) Days of Summer, Julie & Julia, It’s Complicated and Nine. That’s tough competition. What were the guys on when they voted for The Hangover? I am using “guys” on purpose because it is definitely more aimed at male viewers.
Could someone please explain to me what is so special about this film that it deserves so much attention and a Golden Globe?
(If The Hangover had not gotten a Golden Globe, I might have given it 2.5 MovieStars but out of protest, I’ll only give it 2)
Tags: Heather Graham, The Hangover
January 28th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I haven’t spoken to many women who enjoyed this. I can’t explain the technical aspects of why it deserved the Golden Globe, but I do agree with the decision. I’m not usually one for comedies, but I would put this in the top five funniest movies I’ve ever seen. It must be a gender thing.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
@Blake – Hmmm…I guess it must me…but then it still shouldn’t get the Globe if only half of the population likes it…
January 28th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
I can’t discuss because I didn’t see it. But I have been in many jurys. And sometimes I couldn’t understand the decision. Important is to write about your meaning.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Prepare to be shocked, Blake — I saw “The Hangover” and loved it. I loved it so much, in fact, that I saw it twice in the theater (no mean feat considering how expensive movie tickets are these days). And the reason I loved it probably has something to do with what Roger Ebert said: For me, the damn thing is the funniest movie I’ve seen all year. The writing is funny, the actors (especially Zack Galifianakis and Ed Helms) are funny, the “Song for Doug” is funny. I also like start-and-the-end technique.
But then maybe you shouldn’t judge by me. I’m not really a “chick flick chick.”
January 29th, 2010 at 4:25 am
not a masterpiece, but indeed for guys with a certain simplistic mindset like myself a nice bit of braindead entertainment. Hugely benefits from having three beers before watching. The kind of night we all want to experience at some point, strippers and Mike Tyson and stuff…
January 29th, 2010 at 4:38 am
@M.Cater – I don’t really consider myself a “chick flick chick” either but this one wasn’t even neutral, it was more like a “cock flick”
@Toha – Well, that standpoint I get. Maybe if I had had 3 beers before watching the movie, I would’ve liked it a lot more as well!
January 29th, 2010 at 7:24 am
@ M. Carter – So glad to hear you liked it! And glad you’re the first gal I ‘know’ that did.
@ Vanessa – I hope I didn’t come across as sexist. I didn’t mean to claim that all women only like chick flicks. I mostly meant that I thought this would mostly appeal to men. And I do have to agree with ThoHa… a few beers definitely help the case for this film. And you’re right, if it is so gender specific, it shouldn’t have won the globe. I, personally, thought it should have been (500) Days of Summer.
January 29th, 2010 at 7:36 am
@Blake – Don’t worry, I didn’t think you were being sexist. (500) Days of Summer would have been a good choice. I was rooting for Julie and Julia…
January 29th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Well, Vanessa. This is a guy movie. Does it have to be as intellegent as (500) Days of Summer? No. It was fun. Did it deserve the Golden Globe? No. I was rooting for (500). What can you do?
January 30th, 2010 at 2:14 am
@Branden – LOL!
January 30th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I LOVE The Hangover! Wonderful comedy!
January 30th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
@Kid – So did EVERYONE love this movie besides me?
January 31st, 2010 at 2:54 am
of the more prestigious movie review sites I frequently check, the most enthusiastic comes from review God himself. Mr Ebert writes: “Now this is what I’m talkin’ about. “The Hangover” is a funny movie, flat out, all the way through. Its setup is funny. Every situation is funny. Most of the dialogue is funny almost line by line. At some point we actually find ourselves caring a little about what happened to the missing bridegroom — and the fact that we almost care is funny, too.”
And the least enthusiastic? Review Son Jesus Christ, New York Times’ A.O. Scott: “So I should say up front that “The Hangover” … is often very funny” [...] ““The Hangover” peaks early and runs out of steam long before the end.” That’s fair enough: there are enough laughs to create fond memories and annoy your peers by re-telling the scenes (”and then the Chinese crazy guy jumps out of the trunk, and dude he’s totally naked!”).
February 4th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I totally agree, I can’t comprehend how The Hangover got such a “prestigous award” (quotation marks are very important). It was funny, sure, but it wasn’t all that special in my opinion.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
@Jizzka – Yay, another girl on my side
February 8th, 2010 at 4:01 am
When it first came out I didn’t see it in the movie theater but I wanted to have some fun with a girl and hey lets go to the dollar movies. So we went and saw the hangover. I thought it was funny. and it was enjoyable. I didn’t expect that much but it turned out to be much funnier than I expected it to be. So it one of those fun movies that you never think is going to amount to much but turns out to be a surprise.
Samuel
February 8th, 2010 at 7:11 am
@Samual – Welcome to my blog! Did the girl that you took like the movie as well?
February 18th, 2010 at 5:59 am
I find The Hangover a little overrated, but still pretty funny. I liked the performances. Sure, they MIGHT be just playing the typical version of themselves, but at least the acting felt natural?
And wow, Vegas just looked awesome in this movie!
I think I would like the movie even more if I watched it with a group of friends. It’s just one of those movies, y’know…
February 18th, 2010 at 6:59 am
Welcome to my blog Marcy! Another girl that liked this movie…I’m starting to think I am the only one who didn’t like it…how strange!