7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three friends 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. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they can't find is Doug. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps and all their bad decisions in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to L.A. in time to walk down the aisle.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather GrahamComedy | 100% |
Dark humor | 57% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish and Portuguese only on Theatrical cut
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Bonus View (PiP)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Hype killed any chance I had to find happiness with The Hangover. For the first three weeks of its theatrical release, friends, colleagues, and critics raved about director Todd Phillips' triumphant return to his Old School roots. Summer moviegoers hoisted it on their shoulders, spreading tales of its infectious humor and seizure-inducing laughs. Reviews declared it the second coming of comedy; a sparkling bastion of hilarity in a sea of hollow blockbusters and dour dramas. But as my credit card slid through the box office window, I felt the pang of inevitable disappointment. Sure enough, The Hangover wasn't the second coming of comedy; it wasn't everything so many told me it would be. After patiently wading through an overwrought, twenty-seven minute first act, I braced myself for an onslaught of laughs. After grinning and chuckling through a half-hour of well-conceived gags, the majority of which had been spoiled by the film's theatrical trailers, I prepared for whatever third-act sucker punches would finally send me into seizures. Sadly, such blows rarely came. The Hangover had certainly entertained me, it even managed to lighten my mood and guarantee itself a spot on my shelf, but it never clinched a spot amongst my go-to comedies. Worth watching? Sure. Worth the wait? Not for me.
The next morning...
There's something inherently restrained about Warner's warm 1080p/VC-1 transfer; a satisfying, technically sound presentation that faithfully adheres to the tone and texture of The Hangover. Lawrence Sher's sun-splashed Nevada palette is bolstered by subtle primaries and inky blacks, fleshtones are lifelike and nicely saturated, and shadows are absorbing, all of which -- combined with striking contrast -- lend the image welcome depth and dimensionality. Detail is slightly less reliable, but still manages to impress. Close-ups of Galifianakis showcase every cavernous nook and jutting shard of his grizzled beard, Cooper's blood-spattered shirt is dotted with the evidence of a night long forgotten, and a harrowing trip to the desert puts the transfer's finer qualities on full display. Yes, soft shots are all-too-common sight, and yes, nighttime sequences aren't as sharp or refined as their daytime counterparts, but such negligible eyesores should be attributed to Phillips and Sher, not the disc's encoders. My lingering complaints? Edge enhancement has been applied (albeit judiciously), minor artifacting and noise creeps into the picture in a handful of scenes, and banding graces some of the more glaring lights on the Vegas Strip. Each issue is kept to a minimum, mind you, but each one nevertheless undermines the integrity of the presentation. Will fans be pleased? Absolutely. Will videophiles grumble? A bit. Regardless, The Hangover looks great, staying on target far more often than it slips off course.
Despite all the drunken hijinks and jungle cat hilarity that frequents The Hangover, Warner's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track is an unexpectedly front-heavy affair that fails to distinguish itself from the genre crowd. Dialogue remains clear, intelligible, and well-prioritized, commandeering the center channel just as it should, but directional effects are often overtly restrained and subdued. The rear speakers not only disappoint on far too many occasions, they struggle to create an immersive soundfield. Several scenes are more notable -- particularly those involving bursts of action, speeding cars, high stakes Black Jack runs, or strip club shenanigans -- but I rarely felt connected to the on-screen chaos, and even found myself wondering why the film's sound design is so two-dimensional. Regardless, the track is a competent one. Hearty LFE output packs some much-needed sonic punch into the mix, dynamics are reasonably strong, pans are smooth, and the film's soundtrack flexes enough muscle to leave a lasting mark. A more involving experience would have been appreciated, but I suspect Warner's TrueHD track is a fine representation of its source.
Comedies normally serve up a treasure trove of supplemental content, but the Blu-ray edition of The Hangover offers very little of note. A Picture-in-Picture commentary falls terribly flat, and most of the remaining features, though presented in high definition, are aimless and unfulfilling. Aside from the fact that both the theatrical and unrated cuts of the film are included, I was completely underwhelmed by the entire package.
The Hangover failed to worm into my brain like it did with so many others, but I honestly blame the endless hype it's received. I wish I could go back and watch it without any interference. Sadly, its Blu-ray release doesn't help matters. While its video transfer delivers a faithful presentation, its TrueHD audio track is a bit too underwhelming and its supplemental package is a complete misfire (Picture-in-Picture commentary and all). I suppose fans of the film will find it to be an adequate disc, especially at such a low price, but I have a feeling everyone will be disappointed with some aspect of the release.
Rental Copy
2009
Extreme Edition
2009
Extreme Edition | Due Date Movie Cash
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
Unrated Special Edition
2009
Unrated Special Edition | Iconic Moments
2009
2009
2011
2013
#XtendedCut
2012
2012
2008
2016
2011
Movie Only Edition
2011
2013
2010
2004
Big Hairy American Winning Edition
2006
2015
2007
2017
2016
Collector's Edition
2012
10th Anniversary Edition
2009
2008
Mastered in 4K
2013