| The Hangover | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Todd Phillips |
| Written by | |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Lawrence Sher |
| Edited by | Debra Neil-Fisher |
| Music by | Christophe Beck |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35 million[2] |
| Box office | $469.3 million[3] |
The Hangover is a 2009 Americancomedy film directed byTodd Phillips, and written byJon Lucas andScott Moore. It is the first installment inThe Hangover trilogy. The film starsBradley Cooper,Ed Helms,Zach Galifianakis,Heather Graham,Justin Bartha, andJeffrey Tambor. It tells the story of Phil Wenneck (Cooper), Stu Price (Helms), Alan Garner (Galifianakis), and Doug Billings (Bartha), who travel toLas Vegas for abachelor party to celebrate Doug's impending marriage. However, Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up with Doug missing andno memory of the previous night's events, and must find Doug before the wedding can take place.
Lucas and Moore wrote the script after executive producer Chris Bender's friend disappeared and had a large bill after being sent to a strip club. After Lucas and Moore sold it to the studio for $2 million, Phillips andJeremy Garelick rewrote the script to include a tiger as well as asubplot involving a baby and a police cruiser, and also including boxerMike Tyson.Filming took place in Nevada for 15 days, and during filming, the three main actors (Cooper, Helms, and Galifianakis) formed a real friendship.
The Hangover was released on June 5, 2009,[4] and was a critical and commercial success. The film became thetenth-highest-grossing film of 2009, with a worldwide gross of over $467 million. The film won theGolden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and received multiple other accolades. It became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever in the United States, surpassing a record previously held byBeverly Hills Cop for almost 25 years.[5]
The film was followed by twosequels:The Hangover Part II (2011) andThe Hangover Part III (2013). Both were commercial successes, but neither were well-received critically.
Two days before his wedding,bachelor Doug Billings travels toLas Vegas with his best friends Phil Wenneck, a sarcastic teacher, Stu Price, a dentist, and Alan Garner, his odd future brother-in-law. Sid, the father of Doug's fiancée Tracy, loans Doug his vintageMercedes-Benz W111 to drive to Vegas. They book a suite atCaesars Palace and celebrate by sneaking onto the hotel rooftop and drinkingJägermeister.
The next day, Phil, Stu and Alan awaken, unable to remember the previous night. Doug is nowhere to be found, Stu's tooth is missing, the suite is a mess, aBengal tiger is in the bathroom, and a baby is in the closet. They see Doug's mattress impaled on a statue outside, and when they ask for their Mercedes, the valet delivers aLas Vegas police cruiser.
Retracing their steps, the trio travel to a hospital, discovering they were drugged withRohypnol, causing their memory loss, and that they went there from a chapel the previous night. At the chapel, they learn that Stu married acall girl named Jade, despite his relationship with his shrewish girlfriend Melissa. Outside the chapel, the trio is attacked by a gang of men demanding to know where "he" is. Bewildered, they flee and track down Jade, who is revealed to be the baby's mother.
They are arrested by the police for having stolen the cruiser. To get the Mercedes out of impound and released, the trio unwittingly volunteered to be targets for ataser demonstration. While driving the car, they discover a naked Chinese man named Leslie Chow in the trunk, who attacks the trio and flees. Alan confesses that he drugged their drinks to ensure they had a good night, believing the drug to beecstasy.
Returning to their suite, they encounterMike Tyson, who knocks Alan unconscious and demands they return his tiger. After Stu sedates it, they load it into the Mercedes and drive to Tyson's mansion. The tiger awakens and attacks, scratching Phil’s neck and damaging the car. They push the car to the mansion and deliver the tiger. Tyson shows them security camera footage of their reckless behavior from the night before, revealing they lost Doug only after returning to the hotel.
While driving back, their car is rammed by a blackCadillac Escalade manned by Chow and his gang from the chapel. Chow accuses them of kidnapping him and stealing $80,000 inpoker chips. As they deny it, he tells them he has Doug, and threatens to kill him if the chips are not returned. Unable to find Chow's chips, Alan, with help from Stu and Jade, uses his knowledge ofcard counting to win $82,400 playingblackjack.
They meet Chow in theMojave Desert to exchange the chips for Doug, only to find that the "Doug" in question is actually the drug dealer who accidentally sold theroofies to Alan. With the real Doug's wedding set to occur in five hours, Phil calls Tracy to tell her they cannot find him. Simultaneously, the other Doug's remarks that someone who takes roofies is more likely to end up on the floor than on the roof, causes Stu to realize where Doug is.
They return to Caesars Palace and find a dazed, sunburned Doug on the roof. He was moved there as a joke, forgetting when the roofies wore off; Doug threw his mattress onto a statue to signal for help. Before leaving, Stu arranges to meet Jade for a date next week.
With no flights, the four drive home in the damaged Mercedes, where Doug reveals he has Chow's original $80,000. Despite their late arrival, Doug and Tracy are married. At the reception, Melissa confronts Stu about his absence. After arguing, Stu breaks up with her. Alan finds Stu's camera with photos from their Las Vegas night, and they consent to view the pictures before deleting them.
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Todd Phillips, the film's director, appears as Mr. Creepy, who appears briefly in an elevator. Professional skateboarderMike Vallely portrays Neeco, the high-speed tuxedo delivery man.[8] Las Vegas personalitiesWayne Newton andCarrot Top appear as themselves in the photo slide show.[9]
"I think part of what's special about this movie is that none of the comedy comes from the characters being clever, like you see in a lot of sitcoms or movies, where the characters actually have a funny sense of humor. That's not the case in this movie. So as an actor, you can really play the intensity and gravity and seriousness of the moment, and just rely on the circumstances being funny. The joke is kind of the situation you're in, or the way you're reacting to something, as opposed to the characters just saying something witty."
The plot ofThe Hangover was inspired by a real event that happened toTripp Vinson, a producer and friend of executive producer Chris Bender. Vinson had gone missing from his own Las Vegas bachelor party, blacking out and waking up "in a strip club being threatened with a very, very large bill I was supposed to pay".[11]
Jon Lucas and Scott Moore sold the original script ofThe Hangover toWarner Bros. for over $2 million. The story was about three friends who lose the groom at his Las Vegas bachelor party and then must retrace their steps to figure out what happened.[12]It was then rewritten byJeremy Garelick and director Todd Phillips, who added additional elements such as Mike Tyson and his tiger, the baby, and the police cruiser. However, Lucas and Moore retained writing credit in accordance with theWriters Guild of America, West'sscreenwriting credit system.[11]
Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Bradley Cooper were all casual acquaintances beforeThe Hangover was filmed, which Helms said he believed helped in establishing a rapport and chemistry amongst their characters. Helms credited Phillips for "bringing together three guys who are really different, but really appreciate each others' humor and sensibilities". Helms also said the fact that the story of the three characters growing closer and bonding forged the friendship between the three actors: "As you spend 14 hours a day together for three months, you see a lot of sides of somebody. We went through the wringer together, and that shared experience really made us genuine buddies."[10]
Lindsay Lohan was in talks with Phillips for the role of Jade in the film but was ultimately not cast due to being considered too young for what was discussed.[13]
On a budget of $35 million,[2]principal photography took place inNevada for fifteen days.[14]
The Hangover was mostly filmed on location at Caesars Palace, including the front desk, lobby, suite, entrance drive, pools, corridors, elevators, and roof, but the suite damaged in the film was built on asoundstage. While the hospital, the police station, Mike Tyson's house and several interior scenes were filmed on soundstages in the Los Angeles area, other Vegas locations included the exteriors ofAtomic Liquors and theEl Cortez Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street. The Bungalows Hostel (then known as Hostel Cat) featured a facade built by the production team to appear as a wedding chapel. Jade's home was depicted at theWild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel, and Alan is portrayed counting cards while playing blackjack atThe Riviera; both buildings have since been demolished. The scene where Mr. Chow jumps out of the trunk of the Mercedes-Benz 220SE and assaults the protagonists with a crowbar was filmed at the intersection of East Mandalay Bay Road and Haven Street, which remains a dirt lot adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip.
Since there was apiano in the real suite, Phillips allowed Helms to improvise a scene with the piano on the soundstage, which became known as "Stu's song" in the film. According to Helms in a 2011 interview onThe Graham Norton Show, he had to be tutored on how to use a piano for the scene.[15]
Helms said filmingThe Hangover was more physically demanding than any other role he had done, and that he lost eight pounds while making the film. He said the most difficult day of shooting was the scene when Mr. Chow rams his car and attacks the main characters, which Helms said required many takes and was very painful, such as when a few of the punches and kicks accidentally landed and when his knees and shins were hurt while being pulled out of a window.[10] The missing tooth was not created withprosthetics orvisual effects, but is naturally occurring: Helms never had an adultincisor grow, and got a dental implant as a teenager, which was removed for filming.[16]
Jeong stated that his jumping on Cooper's neck naked wasn't a part of the script, but rather improvisation on their part. It was added with Phillips' blessing. Jeong also stated that he had to receive his wife's permission to appear nude in the film.[17]
Phillips tried to convince the actors to allow him to use a real Taser until Warner Bros. lawyers intervened.[18]
Regarding the explicit shots in the final photo slide show in which his character is seen receivingfellatio in an elevator, Galifianakis confirmed that a prosthesis was used for the scene, and that he had been more embarrassed than anyone else during the creation of the shot. "You would think that I wouldn't be the one who was embarrassed; I was extremely embarrassed. I really didn't even want it in there. I offered Todd's assistant a lot of money to convince him to take it out of the movie. I did. But it made it in there."[19]
The scenes involving animals were filmed mostly with trained animals. Trainers and safety equipment were digitally removed from the final version. Some prop animals were used, such as when the tiger was hidden under a sheet and being moved on a baggage cart. Such efforts were given an "Outstanding" rating by theAmerican Humane Association for the monitoring and treatment of the animals.[20]
The film's score was composed byChristophe Beck. The film featured 20 songs, consisting of music byKanye West,Danzig,The Donnas,Usher,Phil Collins,The Belle Stars,T.I.,Wolfmother andThe Dan Band, who tend to feature in Phillips' films as the inappropriate, bad-mouthed wedding band. The Dan Band's cover of the50 Cent single "Candy Shop" appeared inPart I. Pro-skater and punk musician Mike Vallely was invited with his band, Revolution Mother, to write a song for the film and also makes a cameo appearance as the high speed tuxedo delivery guy.[8]
"Right Round" byFlo Rida is played over the ending credits.[21][22] The film uses the Kanye West song "Can't Tell Me Nothing" for which Zach Galifianakis made analternative music video.[23]
The Hangover was a financial success. As of December 17, 2009[update], it had grossed $467,416,722, of which $277,322,503 was in Canada and the United States. It was thetenth-highest-grossing film of 2009 in the world, the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2009 in the United States and the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever in the United States, surpassing a record previously held byBeverly Hills Cop for almost 25 years.[3][24]Out of all R-rated films, it is the sixth-highest-grossing ever in the United States, behindThe Passion of the Christ,Deadpool,American Sniper,It andThe Matrix Reloaded.[25] However, adjusted for inflationThe Hangover earned less than half the total earned byBeverly Hills Cop and is out grossed by several comedies, includingPorky's.[26][27]
On its first day of release in the United States, the film drew $16,734,033 on approximately 4,500 screens at 3,269 sites, and exceeded the big-budgetedLand of the Lost—the other major new release of the weekend—for first day's box office takings.[28]Although initial studio projections had theDisney·Pixar filmUp holding on to the number one slot for a second consecutive weekend, final revised figures, bolstered by a surprisingly strong Sunday showing, ultimately hadThe Hangover finishing first for the weekend, with $44,979,319 from 3,269 theaters, averaging $13,759 per venue, narrowly edging outUp for the top spot, and more than twice that ofLand of the Lost, which finished third with $18.8 million.[29]The film exceeded Warner Bros.' expectations—which had anticipated it would finish third behindUp andLand of the Lost—benefiting from positiveword-of-mouth and critical praise, and a generally negative buzz forLand of the Lost.[29][30] It stayed at the number one position in its second weekend, grossing another $32,794,387, from 3,355 theaters for an average of $9,775 per venue, and bringing the 10-day amount to $104,768,489.[citation needed]
The Hangover was released onDVD,Blu-ray, andUMD on December 15, 2009 byWarner Home Video. There is a single-disc theatrical version featuring both fullscreen and widescreen options (DVD only), as well as a widescreen two-disc unrated version of the film, also containing the theatrical version (DVD, Blu-ray, and UMD). The unrated version is approximately seven minutes longer than the theatrical version.[31][failed verification] The unrated version is on disc one and the theatrical version, digital copy, and the different features are on disc two.[32]The Hangover beatInglourious Basterds andG-Force in first week DVD and Blu-ray sales, as well as rentals, selling more than 8.6 million units and making it the best-selling comedy ever on DVD and Blu-ray, beating the previous record held byMy Big Fat Greek Wedding.[33]
OnRotten Tomatoes,The Hangover has an approval rating of 79% based on 240 reviews with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "With a clever script and hilarious interplay among the cast,The Hangover nails just the right tone of raunchy humor, and the non-stop laughs overshadow any flaw."[4] OnMetacritic, the film has a score of 73 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[34] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[35]
Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Times gave it three-and-a-half stars out of four and praised the film for its comedic approach.[36]A. O. Scott ofThe New York Times praised Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis for their performances in the film as well as Todd Phillips for its direction. Scott later went on to say that the film is "safe as milk".[37]Mick LaSalle of theSan Francisco Chronicle also praised Phillips' direction. LaSalle also praised the film's comedic scenes and called it "the funniest movie so far this year [2009]".[38] Betsy Sharkey of theLos Angeles Times praised the film for its perverseness. Sharkey also said that the film is "filled with moments as softhearted as they are crude, as forgiving as unforgivable".[39] AlthoughJoe Leydon ofVariety criticized the film's trailers and TV-spots for its "beer-and-boobs, party-hearty farce", he also praised the film for its cleverness.[40]
Conversely,Richard Corliss ofTime said that "virtually every joke [in the film] either is visible long before it arrives or extends way past its expiration date" and added, "Whatever the other critics say, this is a bromance so primitive it's practically Bro-Magnon."[41]In his review inThe Baltimore Sun,Michael Sragow called the film a "foul mesh of cheap cleverness and vulgarity."[42] Joe Neumaier of theDaily News gave the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and noted, "Amusing as it is, it never feels real. That may not seem like a big deal—a lot of funny movies play by their own rules—except thatThe Hangover keeps doubling-down on the outlandishness."[43]Family-oriented reviewers have harangued the film, noting that Galifianakis said he tried to forbid his own mother from seeing it and that he yells at parents of kids who tell him they like the film.[44]
Anton Trees criticised the film for what he viewed as the weak character development, especially in its female characters.[45] Critics also focused onmisogyny and stereotyping,[46][47] in particular the portrayal of the Asian gangster.[41][48][49][50]Ebert, despite his praise, stated, "I won't go so far as to describe it as a character study", and said that the film is more than the sum of its parts—parts that may at first seem generic or clichéd, since similar films (such asVery Bad Things) have already explored the idea of a weekend in Vegas gone wrong.[36] The film's premise has several similarities toDude, Where's My Car?[51] Both films are about "a couple guys waking up after a night of getting trashed, only to find they are missing something important",[52] whose adventures include "a trail of clues, a missing car, dubious encounters with strippers and wild animals, a brush with the law and gangs chasing them for something they don't realize they have".[53]
By depicting and celebrating Las Vegas as the "ultimate guys' getaway",The Hangover had a major impact on Caesars Palace and Las Vegas.[72] It was reported in 2013 that as of that year, guests were still continuing to quote to Caesars Palace staff two lines from the film's check-in scene: "Did Caesar live here?" and "Do you know if the hotel is pager-friendly?"[72] As a result of the film,Hangover-themed slot machines became popular at casinos throughout the Las Vegas Valley, the Caesars Palace gift shop sold tens of thousands ofHangover-related souvenirs, and theLas Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority received numerous inquiries from persons interested in recreating some of the film's most wild scenes, such as those involving a tiger.[72]
The Las Vegas branch ofMadame Tussauds addedHangover-themed rooms recreating the hotel room and the wedding chapel[73] and a tie-in rooftop cocktail bar.[74]
In 2018,Hasbro issued a parody version of their board gameClue where players have to locate a missing friend somewhere in the city after a wild night of carousing.[75]
Principal photography ofThe Hangover Part II began in October 2010, withBradley Cooper,Ed Helms,Justin Bartha, andZach Galifianakis returning, in addition toKen Jeong who appears in a much larger role. The film was released on May 26, 2011.[76]
Filming ofThe Hangover Part III began in September 2012, and was released on May 23, 2013.[77]
Tyson added that the pic "started me on a good path to a healthy life."
The other cool thing is that the story of the movie is three guys kind of gradually becoming a lot closer and bonding, and that narrative actually informed our friendship—or the other way around. As you spend 14 hours a day together for three months, you see a lot of sides of somebody. We went through the wringer together, and that shared experience really made us genuine buddies. And I think you see that onscreen somewhat.
I did meet with Lindsay Lohan a little bit [before casting Heather Graham], and we talked. Honestly, it felt like she ended up being too young for what we were talking about. People love to attack her for everything, like: "Ha, she didn't see how great The Hangover was going to be. She turned it down." She didn't turn it down. She loved the script, actually. It really was an age thing.
Mr. Phillips does not always get his way. For a scene in which a police officer tests his stun gun on the guys, the director wanted his actors to be shot with a live Taser. "He goes, 'Look at these clips on YouTube,' " Mr. Galifianakis said. " 'It doesn't hurt that much.' And then the Warner Brothers lawyers stepped in, thank God."
Beverly Hill Cop: Adjusted, $614,310,583; Unadjusted $234,760,478.
The trailers and TV spots suggest it's just another beer-and-boobs, party-hearty farce, but "The Hangover" is surprisingly clever as well as R-rated rowdy.
The Hangover is like an infernal comedy machine. Surrender your soul to its foul mesh of cheap cleverness and vulgarity. and you howl like a delighted demon. Resist, and you feel all sense and sensibility being crushed in its cogs.
Amusing as it is, it never feels real.
That may not seem like a big deal - a lot of funny movies play by their own rules - except that "The Hangover" keeps doubling-down on the outlandishness.
The film, which features three men trying to piece back together a drunken night in Las Vegas, has been criticised by many for misogynistic undertones.
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