The Hangover (15)

Film

Comedy

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Time Out says

Tue Jun 9 2009

Mainstream comedy has always been a staunchly phallocentric affair, but recent months have seen a shift away from the loveable-doofus antics of the Frat pack into altogether more worrying territory. Spearheaded by the UK’s own ‘Lesbian Vampire Killers’, 2009’s comic slate displays a disturbing attitude towards the fairer sex: sure, they’re nice to look at, but they’re also superfluous, and potentially even life-threatening.

Todd Phillips’s previous big success, ‘Old School’, fell squarely in the frat camp, marrying ’80s-style debauchery with a broad streak of appealingly daft slapstick. ‘The Hangover’ retains the former but ditches the latter in favour of a series of loud, aggressive, increasingly unlikely set-piece gags. An intriguing, time-hopping set-up – a group of friends wake after a Vegas stag party and attempt to piece together the previous night’s activities – is wasted on obnoxious characters, celebrity cameos and crass attempts at humour.

It doesn’t help that the central cast is almost entirely forgettable, from the smug lounge lizardry of Bradley Cooper to the boisterous Jack Black-lite of Zach Galifianakis. A genuine star – Vaughn, Rudd, either Wilson brother – would have made these characters likeable, rather than simply pitiful and tiring. Ironically, the only memorable performance in the film – aside from a lumbering, if entirely appropriate, cameo from Mike Tyson – is given by Heather Graham as a hapless hooker. Her geisha-like docility, contrasted with a vicious, hectoring performance from Rachael Harris as a castrating girlfriend, sums up the film’s prehistoric attitude: women may be cute, but dudes don’t need the hassle.

Author: Tom Huddleston

99+

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UK release:

Fri Jun 12 2009

Duration:

100 mins

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(95 ratings)

watch it, OR BE SQUARE!!!

Ross Fri Jul 31 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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the credits are the only good bit!

L Thu Jul 30 2009
Rated as: 2/5
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A top film, deffo worth watching!!

zoe Wed Jul 29 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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I was to watch this tonight. I came here to read some reviews but the level of stupidity in some of the comments left by people who found this film great fun (I repeat, some people not everyone) makes me think that it is probably not worth. Thanks.

Diego Wed Jul 29 2009
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This film is hysterical, go and see it

Jo Mon Jul 27 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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This film was seriously funny it used some great out of the box thinking and was different to some of your average blundering comedies. The characters were varied and funny you could really relate to the film and appreciate what was done. A neat clever comedy that had the audience in fits of laughter I'd gladly pay to see this film again, and I am definately buying it asap. Amazingly funny. :)

jess Sun Jul 26 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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The most funniest film ive seen in a long time, it was hillarious, a must see film, fantastic!!!!!

Helen Sat Jul 25 2009
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Do you want to laugh your socks off go see this movie, forget tedious Bruno. Four guys take a stag trip to Vegas and wake up the next day with a tiger in the bathroom and a baby in the closet. Only they can't remember a thing and they've lost the groom to be ... a tip don't eat anything during the movie - I did and choked laughing and swallowing at the same time.

pete Mon Jul 20 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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I think the reviewer and the previous poster need a sense-of-humour transplant. This film was awesome and absolutely hilarious. The fact that the WHOLE AUDIENCE was in stitches proves my point. This is the best film out at the minute by a country mile!

Marsellus Fri Jul 17 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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If you've been tempted by the trailer maybe you will like it as the trailer shows most of the funny bits, it's handicapped desperately by a cast that is so unlikeable to render anything learned by them in the course of the film meaningless. Heather Graham and Jeffrey Tamor are honourable exception but what a waste of a fine actors, Graham in particular, as usual, lights up the screen but playing a part that even she can only make vaguely 3 dimensional. If you're nothing better to watch maybe you should catch it, otherwise it might be best left till its on the small screen.

Russell Wed Jul 15 2009
Rated as: 1/5
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The Hangover (15)

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