“A RAUCOUS ROMP”
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, and Jeffrey Tambor
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Genre: Comedy
Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
By John Delia
Well it has finally arrived and just in time for holiday giving, the unrated 2-disc digital DVD special edition of The Hangover. I could hardly wait to open the box and snatch out the discs and toss them into my player. No surprise here, the film translates just fine on my home theatre TV. In fact, it is even funnier than I thought when I saw it in the theatre. Able to slow mo, rewind and pause gave me the power over this collectable comedy. AND, the bonus features include 100 new photos from the missing camera.
In the event you haven’t seen the film at the movie theatre here is a synopsis. The movie centers on four guys who decide to have a bachelor party in Las Vegas two days before a wedding. Traveling in a borrowed vintage Mercedes Benz to the city that never sleeps, Doug (the future groom), best man Phil, groomsman Stu and his future brother-in-law Alan are ready to party in a $4000 per night suite.
The morning following the party however the three buddies wake up with a total memory loss of what happened the night before. What’s worse, Doug is missing. Without much to go on except a trashed suite, a baby, some negligee, and a tiger in the bathroom, the three embark on a search for Doug by retracing their steps from what little clues they have. When the trio finally realize that things are really bad, they get worse.
The chemistry between the actors and the very funny script make this movie a howl. Director Todd Phillips holds back nothing infusing some very raunchy comedy into the 90-minute laugh fest. The only problem I had with the film was trying not to laugh so I could hear the next funny line. But with the magic of DVD players, I hit rewind as much as I could stand.
The acting in the film by the four leads is fresh and fun. You can see that the quartet must have been allowed to ad lib on a lot of occasions. I especially liked the scenes in the hospital, the wedding chapel and the demonstration of the stun gun by elementary students. Oh, and how Phillips got the baby to perform so well in this film is beyond my comprehension.
Now for the added good stuff; Bonus features include 100 additional photos from the missing camera (You’ll know what camera I mean after you watch the film), there’s a very funny gag reel, The Dan Band performs Fame, and much more. In addition the 2-disc DVD set includes the theatrical R version of the film for aficionados and for us macho guys the UNRATED!
Keep in mind that there is a lot of adult language, some very gross scenes, an off color joke involving the baby, blatant and gratuitous nudity, drug use and minor violence. You know, all the stuff that makes a film adult rated.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â A great adult film for those who love their laughter with a little raunchiness. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)
SEE OUR INTERVIEW WITH BRADLEY COOPER AT: