"The Hangover" out today

[BillBrasky]

Without a doubt the funniest film out this weekend (Sorry, "Land of the Lost" and any fans of Nia Vardalos that may be out there), Todd Phillips' "The Hangover" opens in multiplexes nationwide today. After a slight misstep with 2006's PG-13 rated "School for Scoundrels", Todd Phillips returns to the kind of R-rated comedy that worked out so well for him in "Road Trip" and "Old School". Featuring a star-making performance by AST favorite Zach Galifianakis, the cast of the Vegas-set comedy also includes many familiar comedic faces like Ed Helms ("The Office"), Rob Riggle ("The Daily Show"), Rachael Harris ("In the Motherhood"), Ken Jeong ("Knocked Up"), and the Upright Citizens Brigade's Matt Walsh.

"The Hangover" looks primed to become a sleeper hit this summer, with positive responses to test screenings and a sequel already in development at Warner Bros. The preview screening I saw the film at was full of pretty much wall-to-wall audience laughter, of the type unheard of by this reviewer since the heyday of the Farrelly Brothers and their smash hit "There's Something About Mary". The combination of the simple but appealing premise and the talented comedic ensemble have resulted in a film that will appeal to mainstream audiences and AST-ish comedy nerds alike. And the previously culty Galifianakis looks prepared to break out in a big way with his deliriously off-the-wall performance as bearded man-child Alan. Don't forget us when you become a big shot, Zach!

[Me still Brody]

Looks cool, hope is does well.

-Brody ->guess I'm not in the movie or here

[Itslikeimsayin]

HEY BILL BRASKY:
HILARIOUS L.A. COMIC BRODY STEVENS IS IN THIS, TOO!

[aenemaTron]

He's in most of the TV spots too, it's not like no one noticed, he's a cop and he's all like "you don't want to end up on this bench" and he looks pretty handsome.

[Alex Mac]

I just got back from this movie and it rocks. Loads of fun the whole time.

[Aaron1933]

Guess which comedy snob really didn't like The Hangover? (Me.)

I can't tell yet whether or not this is an unpopular opinion, but I'm sure I'll find out.

[dorothy mantooth]

I just saw it and it exceeded my expectations. Unfortunately, I was seated next to a mouth-breather whose shitbreath kept activating my gag reflex. Even he could not ruin it for me.

ZG was ridiculous and hilarious, as always.

[Alex Mac]

While it is hard to say that any one person in the movie stole the show, Zach really got to show off a lot and had some great moments. The movie was really, really good.

[theodoric]

Stay for the end credits.

[tuggboat]

I was just glad to see that Zach got his "fat Jesus" joke into a movie.

[darrylduffy]

during the end credits right? not like.. completely after? cause i stayed through them but left before the entire thing finished and i'm pretty sure i saw what everyone's talking about but i'm still not 100%.

[Babs]

I feel like the second half really dragged and had a lot of lazy writing (the gambling thing was a yawn), but holy moses, Zack G was incredible and made it worthwhile.

[nadsat droog]

The Hangover was good but I wouldn't call it anything special. Well, OK, I got to watch Zach be awesome for 90 minutes and I think that was pretty special. But the movie didn't blow me away or anything. I appreciated the non-Apatowian feel of the script in that the story moved in one direction and didn't feel like a bunch of throw away gags. The only one huge laugh for me came during the credits, which might have been the best ending credits sequence in a movie I've ever seen. It's worth your time but don't go in with crazy expectations.

[Two2Coins2]

As a self-proclaimed simpleman of comedy, I must admit that I really enjoyed The Hangover. I laughed the most I've laughed in a theater since I saw Wedding Crashers. Definitely one of the top comedies I've seen in a long time. Well done, Zach! I really have to mention that the part where he said, "Not at the table, Carlos!" made me laugh hysterically. Again, simple comedy. Worth the money for those of you who download your movies to go see it in theaters, because having others there laughing with you makes it so much more enjoyable.

[theodoric]

Lazy, weak, formulaic third act, yeah, but the first hour was nearly pure awesomeness.

Darryl, you must have missed the "Ferris Bueller" ending, then, when Alan...whoops, no spoilers allowed during the first week. Sorry.

[BillBrasky]

I wonder if naming Zach's character "Alan" in the movie was a nod to his character from Dog Bites Man. Considering Phillips' propensity for putting Matt Walsh in every movie he makes, I'm going to say yes, probably.

[ASR]

I loved The Hangover. It wasn't groundbreaking or exceptional, but it was definitely a quality comedy from start to finish. Really funny stuff and it was a creative, well-written script.

I'll also second the best end-credits sequence ever. Better than the dicks in Superbad or the art-timeline in Wall-E.

Oh, and obviously Zach was fantastic. I went with a bunch of friends that don't really watch much stand-up and had no idea who he was before, and now I've already lent out my Purple Onion DVD and it'll be making the rounds.

[Christopher Christpuncher]

Let's focus on some typos y'all, talking about Zach's potential stardom due to the apparent success of this movie would definitely be meaningless. I just saw The Hangover and loved almost every second of it. I have never really laughed as hard or as consistently as I did during that movie. The only part that I didn't really like was the Asian mobster, his part seemed a little like something I would see in South Park or a movie in that vein of comedy, but all of Zach's part was incredible. I was a little uneasy about this boosting his career to a level of people who didn't really appreciate his brand of comedy and just saw him in a mainstream movie that was funny but he really didn't sacrifice any of his personality in the role. The part was so suited to him and he played it incredibly well, there is no way that he didn't have a role in writing.

[Joker]

The Hangover was amazing. I feel really awkward asking this, but was that a fake dick at in the end credits sequence? Was it a Dirk Diggler type thing? Movie was amazing.

[yumitree]

was that a gigantic spoiler you just posted?