The Hangover is a comedy film that most people picture when after-dinner conversations turn to silly Las Vegas road trips and unlikely friendships. It was written by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas, directed by Todd Phillips, and co-produced with Daniel Goldenberg. This 2009 film is the first part of The Hangover trilogy, featuring Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Zach Galifianakis, Jeffrey Tambor, and Ken Jeong.
The 2009 film was successful critically and commercially. It was the tenth-highest grossing film of the year at over $467 million and received several accolades, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Its greatest achievement was its position as the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever in the United States, smashing a 25-year record held by Beverly Hills Cops (The Hangover Part II went on to break this record in May 2011).
Here is everything you need to know about this Vegas comedy:
The Hangover Plot
The story follows four friends planning a bachelor party in Las Vegas. Things go terribly wrong when they wake up and realize the groom is missing, and the search takes them to every corner of the hotel and beyond without success. After several twists and turns, the friends then find themselves in jail for stealing a police vehicle during the crazy night.
One of the friends, Phil, posts their bail, and the real adventure begins. The three worried friends start a spirited search for the still-missing groom, hoping to find him before the wedding starts. After a series of hilarious and nail-biting events, they do manage to get the groom to the chapel on time.
The groom’s famous last words are that he will never repeat the same mistake, which is why it is a perfect comedy trilogy.
The Film’s Representation of Las Vegas
Many people know Las Vegas as the ultimate destination for gambling enthusiasts. It holds a certain mysterious quality, even for online platforms like joker123 that emulate the glitzy Las Vegas experience. The Hangover paints quite a different picture of the city, one that puts Las Vegas as the world’s best bachelor’s party destination; the exposure significantly boosted Caesar’s Palace in real life, as well as the city itself.
Most of the filming took place at Caesars Palace, the iconic casino hotel on the west side of the Vegas Strip. The real-life casino lies between its almost equally famous counterparts, The Mirage and Bellagio. In fact, arriving guests frequently ask the hotel’s staff two of the funniest lines from the movie’s check-in scene: “Did Caesar live here?” and “Do you know if the hotel is pager friendly?”
The film contributed hugely to The Hangover-themed slot machines now popular across the Las Vegas Valley. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority even receives inquiries from multiple individuals looking to recreate the movie’s wildest scenes each year, like the classic tiger debacle. Madame Tussauds’ Las Vegas branch added a themed room to mimic The Hangover’s wedding chapel, hotel room, and a tie-in rooftop cocktail bar.
What Happens in Vegas Sometimes Stays in Vegas
The Hangover is not only one of the most popular American comedy films but an undeniable catalyst for people’s interest in Las Vegas from around the world. Tourists now visit the city to explore the movie’s filming locations, especially Caesars Palace, so it has done a great deal for the local economy in this iconic entertainment destination.
