Is the Hangover Really That Funny?

Thursday, June 18, 2009
From OC Register
Barry Koltnow

You're probably losing sleep over concerns about how you're going to pay the rent, put your kids through school and survive your retirement years.

But, in Hollywood, all they're talking about is "The Hangover."

They're spending sleepless nights trying to figure out how this bachelor-party-in-Vegas comedy became the surprise hit of the summer.

This is even a bigger topic of conversation than the David Letterman-Sarah Palin controversy.

I, too, have wondered about "The Hangover," but I'm certainly not staring at my bedroom ceiling trying to come up with an answer.

But I don't own a movie studio. Those who do can talk about nothing else these days. And I have a pretty good idea of how these conversations might sound.

I should warn you that I have no proof that the following conversation ever took place. But, if I had any money left after my recent work furlough, I'd bet that it did.

STUDIO EXECUTIVE NUMBER ONE: Do you have the answer?

STUDIO EXECUTIVE NUMBER TWO: What answer?

ONE: The answer to the question that all of Hollywood is asking.

TWO: Why Eddie Murphy keeps getting jobs?

ONE: No, not that one.

TWO: How did two movies about mall cops get released at the same time?

ONE: No, not that one.

TWO : Why William Shatner didn't get a cameo in the new "Star Trek" movie?

ONE: No, not that one. The other one.

TWO: Oh, "The Hangover" question.

ONE: Of course. It's the only question that matters. We must find out the secret to its success because it's easier to copy other people's successes than to come up with our own original ideas.

TWO: It's how Hollywood works.

ONE: Exactly. So, do you have the answer?

TWO: I've watched the movie 132 times, and I can't pin it down. There are no bankable stars in it, and the funniest part of the movie happens during the final credits when people are walking out of the theater. It doesn't make sense. I'm so confused.

ONE: Any possible answers?

TWO: At first, I thought it might be Mike Tyson. He was pretty funny in the movie, although he does sucker punch one of the main characters. That was kind of thuggish, and I don't think we want to start sucker-punching our stars for the sake of comedy.

ONE: I agree. And I don't think it was Tyson. His documentary has made less money than I've got in my wallet right now, so I don't think people are clamoring to the multiplex to see Mike Tyson.

TWO: Then I thought it might be the blue tuxedoes. Everybody thinks blue tuxedoes are funny.

ONE: Sure, but are blue tuxedoes alone worth a $10 movie ticket? I don't think so.

TWO: I know you're right. I was desperate. I also thought it might be the tiger.

ONE: Trust me, it's not the tiger. Chimpanzees and orangutans are box-office gold, not tigers. Study your Hollywood history.

TWO: Sorry about that. What about Heather Graham? What guy doesn't love Roller Girl? And she exposes her breast.

ONE: A very sexy image, but not really funny. Naked isn't funny. What else have you got?

TWO: What about the setting? Who doesn't like to look at Las Vegas in a movie?

ONE: I'd go along with that theory, but people are staying away from Vegas. I don't think they miss it so much that they need to look at it nostalgically in a movie.

TWO: Some people are still going to Las Vegas.

ONE: They're gamblers. They don't go to the movies. What else?

TWO: What about the bachelor party theme?

ONE: Two words – Tom Hanks.

TWO: You didn't like "Bachelor Party?"

ONE: It doesn't matter whether I liked it. It wasn't funny. We're trying to find out why "The Hangover" was funny.

TWO: Maybe it wasn't really funny.

ONE: What do you mean?

TWO: Maybe it wasn't the story or the setting or the stars. Maybe it was the idea of "The Hangover."

ONE: Have you been taking philosophy courses at the Learning Annex?

TWO: No, hear me out. What if "The Hangover" wasn't funny at all, but its success could be tied to a brilliant promotional campaign that tricked people into thinking it was funny?

ONE: You've got my attention. Please go on.

TWO: What if the marketing guys at the studio came up with a brilliant plan to make people believe they were going to laugh. So when people walked into the theater, they were already primed to laugh.

ONE: Those marketing guys must be geniuses.

TWO: That's what I'm thinking.

ONE: So our movies don't have to be funny; we just need to fool people into thinking they're funny.

TWO: This is so much easier than making a funny movie.

ONE: I'm laughing all the way to the bank.