The tiring mess that is "The Hangover"

"The Hangover"
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham
Grade: C-

Todd Phillips had proved pretty reliable for making raunchy comedies that appeal to wide audiences. He usually casts his films appropriately with a likable cast that the audience will love. This is not the case with Phillips' latest adult-comedy. The cast of unfamiliar faces, save for Bradley Cooper, are unappealing and not fun to watch.

I feel I'll be in the extreme minority by saying this film is mediocre at best. It has all the formulaic plot twists and predictability that restrains it from being something truly funny. The familiar plot goes like this, four guys shove off to Vegas for the weekend in hopes of showing their friend Doug the time of his life before his wedding. The group of guys couldn't be any more un-original. Bradley Cooper plays Phil, the asshole of the group, Ed Helms plays Stu, the soon to be engaged, play it safe guy, Zach Galifianakis plays Alan, the step-brother to Doug, and overall wierdo/creep, and Justin Bartha who plays Doug, who is in the movie for maybe 20 minutes.

The movie is 90 minutes of these guys tracing their steps around Vegas to try to find Doug, figure out what to do with a lost baby, and many other things that would take up the next paragraph trying to describe. I guess it sounds like I really hate this movie, I didn't hate it as much as I was letdown by it. I laughed a few times early on, but the whole middle was a long stretch of "I've seen this seen many times in other movies."

"The Hangover" has a made a killing at the box-office, and a sequel is on the way, I can't even imagine what the movie will be about, but I assume it will also make good money. The movie does make a star out of the Alan character, and the actor that plays him. Zach Galifianakis is the next Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, or even John Belushi.

Phillips does a fine job directing, the performances are there, but the characters are cardboard when it comes to being original. The movie jumps from one episode to another, I swear this could have played out better if it was a TV show. Each episode could visit each place these guys visit, yes it's that tiresome. Mike Tyson is the only redeeming quality, he provides a decent cameo and a few laughs as well.

"The Hangover" wont be the best comedy of the Summer, and maybe not of the month. See it if you must, since I'm sure it will be the talk of the town until the next Transformers comes out.

Oh OH!, the credits should never be the funniest part of the movie.