The Hangover

Rated: R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
Release Date: 2009-06-05
Starring: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://hangovermovie.warnerbros.com/

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‘The Hangover’ is the type of comedy I like. Slightly in your face, but never pushing the envelope past the point of no return (i.e; Observe and Report). It’s this year’s Pineapple Express. But the best thing about this film is the plotline. Absolutely fantastic! It’s really hard to find stories interesting enough to perk up your senses in today’s Hollywood.

Two days before his wedding, Doug (Justin Bartha) and his three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out bachelor party they’ll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can’t remember a thing, nor where the soon to be husband Doug is. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps, figure out what happened to Doug and get back to the weeding in time before anyone suspects what happened.

There are moments when the story drags a bit in the middle, but all worth disregarding due to the compelling and amusing story. So how was the acting? Terrific. Zach Galifianakis, the bearded fellow, was such an annoying puss that he really managed to get under my skin. Cooper was just a rock star and after this film, he’ll no doubt be leading man material in his next project.

This is perhaps the most entertaining film of the year. I enjoyed it and so will you!

The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content throughout, some language and a drug reference.
Release Date: 2009-05-01
Starring: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Director(s):
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.ghostsofgirlfriendspastmovie.com/

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‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore somehow manage to salvage the film by developing two well written romantic moments into the overdone cornball premise. The film doesn’t work as a comedy, but it gets the job done in the romance department.

Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is a free loving bachelor  who is the ultimate ‘playa’. Unfortunately, his childhood friend Jenny (Jennifer Garner) is the one woman in his life who has always seemed immune to his considerable charm. It all comes to a climax when three ghosts, yes a la Dickens, take him on a revealing odyssey through a lifetime of failed relationships. The purpose of this exam is to get him to redeem himself in front of his one true love – Jenny.

There is no doubts about this film being targeted to female viewers, Unfortunately, they’ll have to deal with some negatives. Most of the damage of the film exists in its overused storyline – Charles Dickens’ ‘The Christmas Carol’. That on its own should scare most moviegoers away. Adding to the barrage of detriments is the myriad of lame and unamusing gags that never go over. I don’t really remember laughing once. But halfway through the film, when Michael Douglas appears as Uncle Wayne, is when we finally experience the first engaging moment. Douglas’s detailed in-depth tutorial on picking up women to a young Connor possesses a real candor absent from similar movies of the genre. I’m sure female viewers will find it amusing if not absurd. We once again are treated to another memorable moment at the film’s climax when McConaughey himself dishes out some love wisdom of his own. These scenes mixed in with a gooey score and sufficient teary close ups will debilitate even some of the most stoic of men.

 

Apart from those likable sequences, the supporting cast is simply irrelevant and insipid. Their charms and levels of interest are nonexistent. Futhermore, McConaughey’s performance matches those of his previous uninspired works (Fools Gold, Failure to Launch, The Wedding Planner). Nevertheless, if you can get past the Dickens homage, ‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ is better than most romantic fare out in theaters right now. Female viewers will enjoy a good insight into the male psyche and have a chance to see a man go from player to prince. Isn’t that what all women want?