Matinee Melee: ‘The Hangover:’ A movie you don’t have to be tipsy to enjoy

CASEY PHILLIPS: If someone had asked me six months ago, “Hey, how’d you like to see a director combine elements of ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Memento?’ ” I might have given them a stern look and walked the other way. Having seen “Hangover,” however, I have to admit I would have been wrong to write off the concept.

“Hangover’s” director, Todd Philips, did work on “Road Trip” and “Old School,” plenty of experience for crafting this story of a bachelor’s party gone wrong in the best kind of way. Best friends Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) are joined by Doug’s soon-to-be-brother-in-law Alan for a last hurrah in Vegas. When the guys wake up to a trashed suite, they can’t remember a thing, Doug is missing, there’s a tiger in the room and Stu, a reserved dentist, is mysteriously missing a tooth.

Uncovering the mystery of what happened is wildly funny. There’s an unexpected cameo by Mike Tyson, and all three leading men have their own brand of funny.

Zach Galifianakis shines as Alan, an uncomfortable, mentally unstable social outcast who finally meets people willing to tolerate his weirdness. His antics, like referring to the men as his “wolf pack,” are worth the price of admission.

HOLLY LEBER: There’s also a baby, Casey. Don’t forget about the baby. I hope they used a plastic doll in the scene where a car door is knocked into the infant’s head. Anyway ...

Not surprisingly, there were several groups of 20-something men who had gathered to view this film on Friday afternoon. While “The Hangover” isn’t a tender bromance in the style of “I Love You, Man,” it seemed like a good flick for a group man date. Since I’m the chick here, though, I’ll let my more testosterone-riddled partner confirm or deny that.

This is a fun movie with a lot of laughter, much of it incredibly uncomfortable. The guys in the movie are subjected to some very awkward moments, and the audience isn’t spared. Galifianakis’ rear end, which is shown fairly liberally in the film, wasn’t exactly something I was swooning at, but seeing him was like looking at Brad Pitt compared to the octogenarian nude scene which takes place about midway through. It was a bold move by director Philips.

CASEY: Awkwardness is this movie’s charm. It’s a testament to the strength of the other two starring characters that Alan’s bizarre behavior didn’t steal the show.

Helms’ Stu shares a lot in common with his role as Andy on “The Office,” a clean-cut guy who has a bit of a wild side hidden beneath his sweater vest. He seems taken aback (and a little impressed) as the guys figure out that he was responsible for the most out-there shenanigans (like marrying a stripper played by Heather Graham). Cooper’s Phil is the good-looking, alpha male you’d expect, given similar roles in “Wedding Crashers” and “Yes Man.” Nothing unexpected, but well played.

HOLLY: But Helms actually has a neck in this movie. He doesn’t have one on “The Office.” I hope the guy has a good chiropractor.

The movie, to me, is what Casey has referred to in the past as a Chinese buffet movie, although I liken it more to pancakes — something enjoyable at the time, but not staying. I happily laughed and cringed my way through “The Hangover,” but 24 hours later, didn’t really remember anything particularly thought-provoking about it. I enjoyed it; it’s going on my DVD list, but it’s not a think piece, nor is it an example of comedic brilliance. That’s OK — not every comedy has to be a “Bananas” or a “Big Lebowski.”

CASEY: I went in to seeing “The Hangover” with incredibly low expectations, but the movie surpassed them in every way. This is a definite must-see for anyone who’s had a wild night of fun and tried to figure out what happened the next morning.

HOLLY: And as the Chattanooga population, with the exception of a few clergy members, flock to the theater, Warner Bros. thanks Casey Phillips for jacking up their box office numbers. If our readers are a) honest and b) taking our advice, that is. Here’s hoping.