Hungover

Seems an appropriate title for an inappropriately late review of "The Hangover." Because it was so very long ago that I watched said movie, I'll stick to impressions in an effort to save face and keep the writing pure. It's a bromance of sorts, but with subtler personal changes than in "I Love You Man," and even though said changes are only slightly less obvious, that little bit makes all the difference. Bare bones plot summary: standard issue groom, two of his best friends and his awkward, soon-to-be brother-in-law (too many hyphens) hit up Vegas for a bachelor party to end all bachelor parties. We witness the approach, hotel check-in, and then first drink of the night, and then watch a sped up shot of the skyline going from night to morning, and then get to see the aftermath of the debauchery. The biggest consequence is that the groom has gone missing, leaving approximately two days for the friends to find him, bond, sort out their differences, mature, and have a hell of a funny time. The comedy is broad and physical at times, including a rather unnecessarily crude scene with tasers, but is occasionally smarter and sharper than the mass median style it promises (such as when brother-in-law Zach Galifinakis has a dramatic music, slow motion, old west-style showdown during the aforementioned taser scene). This is comedy in the broadest sense, but not comedy without a sense of humor. For every time someone suffers physical trauma or for every drunk joke or for every other sort of stupid but funny moment there... well, the ration isn't exactly 1:1, but the fine moments like a Mike Tyson cameo make up for the other stuff. And the acting ain't bad either- Zach Galifinakis does a great job being weird and uncomfortable, Ed Helms is good as the uptight friend, the douchebag friend (too lazy to look him up) does a nice job of slowly toning down his brashness, and the supporting cast also shines, especially Heather Graham. And the character transformations are entirely suitable, especially that of douchebag friend, whose self-confidence, originally a major defect, turns into practical resourcefulness as he turns his considerable skills of douchieness to recovering his lost friend. Although Ed Helm's rejection of his whippedness may be more satisfying. Bottom line: it may be a comedy engineered towards the bros, but we can learn to live comfortable alongside our broseph bretheren. Last note: the music selection is a pretty godawful combination of top 20 pop and terrible rap songs, save Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothing," which Galifinakis did a music video for. I thought that was a super-clever in joke.

Okay. I haven't forgotten Pac-Biggie, but it's really hard to find an angle for that. I promise more recent movies and reviews in the near future. Cool stuff, let's get to it.