What happens in Vegas

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2010)

"The Hangover" is arguably the top comedy of 2009. The film defied expectations to rake in millions of dollars on its way to becoming one of the highest grossing R-rated films of all time. It even managed to snag a Golden Globe nomination recently.
However, while I wouldn't argue against the enjoyability of "The Hangover" I find that in retrospect the film's individual components seem pretty average. Yet, somehow the film manages to become more than the sum of its parts.
The script is funny but not hilarious. Similarly, the actors bringing the script to life are competent but mostly seem to be the budget versions of more recognizable (and talented) actors.
The storyline keeps us interested due to its unpredictable nature but there's nothing that really ties any of it together in a clever way. This doesn't really become apparent until we reach the end and see that everything that preceded it was fairly arbitrary.
The presentation is good enough with the direction servicing the story and the soundtrack supporting the vibe but there's nothing truly outstanding there either.
In short, this is a movie that somehow produces a winning combination from commonplace elements. In the end, I'm doubtful about how the movie will hold up to repeated viewings but it is undeniably enjoyable the first time around.