FILM REVIEW: "The Hangover" is something of a surprise, a film that sort of fits the 'silly comedy' genre but somehow does it in a very clever, witty and yes, funny way. The film is a boys' fantasy, but there is much to enjoy for everyone in this caper about a group of guys out on a bachelor party in Las Vegas who wake the next morning to find that not only can they not remember what happened, but they have to find out to get themselves out of the trouble they find themselves in that they have no recollection about. Much of what works in "The Hangover" is the zany, but clever script, which is used to great measure by a strong director and the fantastic chemistry he gets from all the actors involved. Despite a slow and uneven start, "The Hangover" is a lot of fun, and unlike many comedies, has replay value thanks to its timeless jokes and setting.

The film opens with a flash-forward to a scene that takes place towards the end of the film. Phil (Bradley Cooper) makes a call to the bride-to-be that they may have lost the groom. We then move back two days where we see the guys get together, ready to go on their trip. This entire set up, although necessary to establish the characters and their relationships, is the weakest part of the film, thanks to the fact that it is long and sluggish, with only a moment or two of comedy which hints at what is to come and seems oddly out of place with what you are watching. During these sequences, you might wonder if this film is actually going to go somewhere or turn in to a disappointing bore. However, thanks to a fantastic time-lapse transition from night to day, the film leaps over the bachelor party to the next morning, where we see the guys hung over; this is where the fun really begins.

Dissolving to a close-up of Stu (Ed Helms) passed out on the floor, a chicken appears behind him, slowly walking across the frame. The immediate impulse is to laugh as you have to wonder, what is a chicken doing in their Vegas suite? The comedy in "The Hangover" follows this pattern of "what the?" jokes, but somehow manages to up the comedy ante when we learn how these things happen, except unfortunately for the explanation as to the appearance of the chicken. Alan's (Zach Galifianakis) discovery of a tiger in the suite's bathroom is hilarious, as is each manic discovery afterward including that Stu somehow pulled out his tooth and got married to a stripper named Jade (Heather Graham), there is a baby in a side room, they stole a police car, they lost the groom Doug (Justin Bartha), and they somehow crossed both Mike Tyson (who hilariously plays himself) and an effeminate Chinese gangster.

Despite the silliness of the idea, director Todd Phillips and his cast make all of the humour real and engaging, and as such, have crafted an hilarious film. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms are excellent in their roles as Phil and Stu, but the surprise here is Zach Galifiankis as Alan; his character could have easily become the slapstick comedy stereotype, and his first few scenes suggest that he will become a silly character, but over the course of the film, he becomes quite endearing and three dimensional, as all the other characters do. In this respect, the film stands out over many others in the same genre.

"The Hangover" is great fun, and has repeat value. Although the film's first twenty minutes are average, the film hits high gear by the second act, leaving you wanting more.

TECHNICAL REVIEW: The visuals stand out spectacularly in this DVD transfer. Although the film is a comedy, the filmmakers constructed some wonderful vistas of Vegas that are faithfully represented here. The colours are strong and vibrant, and the picture itself is very clean and crisp. The audio is likewise excellent, again making good use of the surround channels despite being a comedy which traditionally does not create strong surround environments.

EXTRAS REVIEW: There are only a couple of extras on this DVD. The main one is the "Map Of Destruction" which at first is a little confusing because it looks like a DVD menu, but when you realise it is actually playing back a series of behind the scenes clips automatically, it works. Unfortunately the clips are quite short and do not provide all that much in behind the scenes material other than a good section on how cooperative Caesars Palace was to the production. There is an hilarious music video of the "Three Best Friends" song, and a gag reel. Not much here to get excited about.



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