The Hangover, released June 5, 2009 in theaters, is a raucous comedy that perfectly captures the chaotic spirit of a bachelor party gone hilariously wrong. The film follows four friends – the uptight Doug (Justin Bartha), the cynical school teacher Phil (Bradley Cooper), an apprehensive dentist Stu (Ed Helms), and the future brother in-law Alan (Zach Galifianakis) – as they embark on a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas.
What ensues is a whirlwind of debauchery, with the friends waking up the morning after with no memory of the previous night. Their villa at Caesar’s Palace is a disaster zone, and their groom-to-be, Doug, has vanished. The rest of the film follows their frantic attempts to piece together the events of the night before and locate Doug before his wedding the following day.
The film is a masterclass in physical comedy, with a series of outrageous and often absurd situations. Galifianakis stands out as the unpredictable and hilarious Alan, whose eccentric behavior provides much of the film’s comedic gold. Cooper, Helms, and Bartha also deliver strong performances, playing off each other with impeccable comedic timing.
Todd Phillips directed the film on the heels of his success with Old School starring Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell and Road Trip starring Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott, Amy Smart and Tom Green.
The Hangover (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Supporting Cast
The strong supporting cast for The Hangover includes Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Jeffrey Tambor, Sasha Barrese, Mike Epps and Rob Riggle.
Mike Tyson famously appeared as himself, who shows up at the guy’s hotel suite looking for his missing pet tiger.
Reception for The Hangover
The Hangover grossed $44.97 million in its opening weekend to finish No. 1 at the box office, just ahead of Up ($44.1 million). The film would gross $277.3 million domestically and $469.3 million worldwide.
The film would end up as the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2009, trailing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen ($402.1 million), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($301.96 million), Up ($293 million), The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($284.5 million) and Avatar ($283.6 in 2009 alone).
Roger Ebert gave the film three-and-a-half stars in his review, saying “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.”
The Hangover won Best Picture: Musical or Comedy at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards.
The film was followed by two sequels: The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover Part III (2013).
Lasting Legacy
The Hangover has infectious energy and the undeniable chemistry between the four leads make it an undeniably entertaining and unforgettable cinematic experience.
The Hangover is a wild, hilarious, and surprisingly touching comedy that remains a modern classic. It’s a film that will leave you laughing out loud and wondering what on earth happened in Vegas.
