On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 3/169 |
Max Braden |
I kept thinking as I watched that I'd seen it before in Bachelor Party, whcih I recommend renting. Be sure to see this one with a group. |
| 4/82 |
Kelly Metz |
Much to my surprise, the funniest movie I saw all year. Great cast - not a weak link anywhere. |
| 7/20 |
Les Winan |
Explosively funny but missing something that would have made it truly special. |
Pass the Gatorade, swallow some vitamin B-Complex, and go eat at Denny’s (or any other greasy spoon). Ahh, the tried and true yet not-so-trusty hangover cures. The Hangover is a movie set in Las Vegas, which follows three groomsmen who lose their groom-to-be buddy during their drunken escapades in Sin City. They then have to retrace their steps in order to find him. As any drunk will tell you, this is never an easy task. Heather Graham and Bradley Cooper star in helmer Todd Phillips’ new comedy.
Phillips has directed in this genre before with Road Trip, Old School and Starsky & Hutch. Road Trip earned more than four times its $15 million budget, swerving its way to $68 million. Old School graduated with $74 million, roughly tripling its budget. It has also become a cult hit on video. Getting into that range would likely be a huge success for Hangover, considering the lack of big name talent here. Neither Vince Vaughn nor Will Ferrell are anywhere to be found this time around, which could be a cure for what might ail this one’s box office hopes.
Graham has been making moves ever since her Boogie Nights character Rollergirl made such an impression years ago. This impression is so strong, in fact, that even now you can’t mention the two separately. Cooper has appeared in many small screen efforts but filmgoers most identify him with his jerk-off character Sack Lodge from Wedding Crashers. Justin Bartha, best known as Riley in the National Treasure films, plays the lost groom. There's nothing for the marquee here. Heck, even Phillips’ Road Trip had a then-hot name in Tom Green to help that along.
Combine Ed Burns' The Groomsmen with What Happens In Vegas and you may get a result like The Hangover. What Happens was a surprise hit that earned $80 million vs. a $35 million budget. Groomsmen was lucky it was released or even seen at all, costing $3 million and pulling in only six figures in box office receipts. This should fall in between the two. How’s that for a prediction? (Brandon Scott/BOP)
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