Feature

The Hangover

In director Todd Phillips' perversely brilliant spin, it's not the bachelor's party that's so hilarious—it's the morning after.

Directed by Todd Phillips
(R)

***

A bachelor party goes terribly awry.

The premise of The Hangover—four friends head to Vegas for a bachelor party—is hardly a new one, said Rene Rodriguez in The Miami Herald. But director Todd Phillips gives it a perversely brilliant spin, making this one lost weekend you’ll want to remember. It’s not the bachelor party that’s so hilarious but the morning after. The buddies wake up with no recollection of what happened the night before and must piece together the evening’s events. It all plays out like a sick, “sun-drenched comic mystery,” said Desson Thomson in The Washington Post. The Hangover could have easily turned into another buddy movie or Vegas romp, but instead it’s like “Memento featuring the Three Stooges.” Phillips, who showed his ridiculous sense of humor with Old School, not only understands the art of surprise but also the importance of pacing. And let’s not forget the importance of a good cast, said Ty Burr in The Boston Globe. His funnymen, in particular Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms, make this worst-case-scenario morning after seem “howlingly funny.”

Recommended

Ukraine says Kahkovka dam destruction won't derail counteroffensive
Flooding in Kherson after dam failure
A wash

Ukraine says Kahkovka dam destruction won't derail counteroffensive

Why does India have so many train crashes?
Balasore train crash
Today's big question

Why does India have so many train crashes?

Iran claims to have built its first hypersonic missile
The Fattah missile unveiled by Iran.
Iranian Weaponry

Iran claims to have built its first hypersonic missile

Ukraine blames Russia for destroying major Dnipro River dam 'in panic'
Kakhovka Dam
Cui bono?

Ukraine blames Russia for destroying major Dnipro River dam 'in panic'

Most Popular

Actors union votes to authorize strike
A writers strike picket line outside Sony Studios in Culver City
strike two?

Actors union votes to authorize strike

Scientists claim ancient human relatives buried their dead, sparking evolution debate
skeleton fossil findings of the Homo Naledi Hominin species
is it true?

Scientists claim ancient human relatives buried their dead, sparking evolution debate

What is Mike Pence thinking?
Former Vice President Mike Pence on a motorcycle
Talking point

What is Mike Pence thinking?