Quick Take: 'The Hangover' (2009)

I have always known that seeing someone with a hangover is a more pleasant experience than having one but I never knew how enjoyable it could really be until I watched The Hangover. The Adventures of Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stew (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) after losing their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) due to a wild bachelor party for him in Las Vegas may be the worst possible situation for them but could not be more fun for the audience.  There is no question The Hangover is a full on slap stick comedy and at times the jokes fail to move the film along but they are so funny that it becomes difficult to care. Besides, who needs jokes consistent with the plot when the plot has a certain level of unpredictability (rare for a comedy). To go along with this unique plot is the chemistry between the three leads. Each character is very different with Cooper as the cool one, Helms as the uptight one and Galifianakis as, well, let’s just say the odd one but due to the men filling the roles they all mesh together so well. Both Cooper and Helms hold their own and are perfectly casted but it is Galifianakis that steals the show. Alan would probably be a nightmare to be around in real life but that is probably what makes him so amusing on screen. Whether it be creating a wolf pack or counting cards, Alan’s antics will keep you beyond entertained with the comedic deliver and mannerisms of Galifiankis being a major reason for this. Galiifiankis alone makes The Hangover a must see but there is much more working in its favor to cause for a solid movie. 
Grade: A-