The Hangover (2009)

Counting cards isn’t illegal. It’s frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane… Maybe since 9/11 when everyone got so damn sensitive. Thanks a lot Bin Laden!

— Alan Garner

Breaking from my classic movie theme, The Hangover is currently #131 on Top 250 of all time on IMDB. This movie is so good. Words cannot describe how awesome this movie is to watch.

The premise is explained in the trailer. On the day of Doug’s (Justin Bartha) wedding, he goes missing after a wild night that the rest of the gang cannot remember.

The movie flashes back two days earlier to Doug talking to his future brother-in-law, Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis), who is like a idiot savant. He is not friendly with Doug’s other friends, the cocky schoolteacher, Phil (Bradley Cooper) and the dorky dentist, Stu (Ed Helms).

Borrowing Alan’s father’s (Jeffrey Tambor) classic gray Mercedes, the quartet head out towards Sin City for Doug’s bachelor party. After a night of drinking, the guys wake up to a trashed hotel room, a tiger in the bathroom, a chicken and a baby in the closet.

Throughout the course of the movie, the guys have to figure out what happened to Doug and what happened during the time that they blacked out. This leads towards some unexpected situations that they have to confront.

At first glance, you would never think about these three guys as friends, but it works on so many levels. Perfect casting choices.

Bradley Cooper is getting most of the praise in this movie, but Zach Galifianakis was gut-bursting funny. Hands down.

The movie is not perfect. Some of the action set pieces were too convenient that all of the people with guns knew where the trio was at all times.

Judgment: To relieve from a shitty blockbuster summer, take two viewing of this movie and call me in the morning.

Rating: ****1/2