No Need to Cure This 'Hangover'

By PAULINA KOSTUROS

At first glance, “The Hangover” may appear to be the typical crass, foolish, let’s-get-naked “guy movie.” However, the movie’s entertainingly chaotic plot line and gut-busting humor make this a comedy worth seeing.
Days before his wedding, Doug (Justin Bartha), his two friends Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms) and his quirky soon-to-be brother-in-law, Alan (Zach Galifianakis), head to Las Vegas for a wild bachelor party no one will ever forget. However, the morning after their night of debauchery, the men cannot recall a single event from the previous night. In addition, Doug has vanished, and the remaining men find a sobbing baby in the hotel closet, a massive tiger in the bathroom, and one of Stu’s front teeth knocked out. In a race against time, the three men must retrace their steps in order to find their missing friend and groomsman.
Phil, Stu and Alan form an unlikely, yet hilarious, trio or “wolfpack,” as Alan calls them. Galifianakis’ acting remains superb. If anything, the shenanigans of his character, Alan, make this movie worth seeing. Alan maintains a degree of man-child creepiness and absurdity, reminding us all why we don’t like seeing crazed, hairy men naked.
Phil plays the role of the obnoxious, yet semi-intelligent, frat boy eager to escape the pains of his adult life. Stu portrays a sensible, yet spineless, dentist who remains whipped by his domineering girlfriend.
Throughout their spastic journey, the men run into all sorts of trouble—or rather, consequences from the night before—fending off Asian gangsters working for the psychotic villain named “Mr. Chow” and escaping the wrath of the police—all while trying to survive each other (or at least Alan). While the movie maintains a level of “Old School” and “Animal House” style vulgarity, the characters’ interactions among one other and their responses to the strange situations they find themselves in, balance the dynamics of the movie.
In addition, the characters accumulate bruises, bloody lips and concussions, giving slap-stick humor an entirely new meaning.
“The Hangover” is not a crowd pleaser for those easily offended. However, for those willing to put aside some very strange nudity and laugh at a little tasteless humor, it’s definitely worth the dollar at Cheap Seats.

Cheap Seats Screenings:
“The Hangover” –
Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3
Admission: $1
Check Bullet Points for times and locations.