It’s not “Citizen Kane,” but you knew that. The people who don’t like the second film probably didn’t like the first one, and the people who liked the first one will probably like the new installment of what I’m assuming is a Hangover franchise. It gives the audience what they crave — but what that is might surprise you. Most people assume that’s gross-out humor or vulgarity, and this film certainly delivers that — probably too much, actually. But that’s not why I think a lot of people like these films. Just as “Sex and the City” was arguably more about female friendships than sex or fashion, “The Hangover” is more about camaraderie than carousing. In our modern society, this is needed.
If you’re a guy in your mid-thirties (as I am), you likely have a job and a young family. You probably haven’t seen your friends in a while — if you still have any male friends, that is. Sure, you have some work associates, but they probably don’t bleed over into the weekends or after six o’clock much. And you are probably slowly drifting away from your old buddies. This is both because you have serious responsibilities, and because — if you spent too much time with some of your old pals, you would probably end divorced, with a face tattoo and a missing finger — or worse. The downside is that many adult men lack friends. And friends, many studies show, bring happiness.
While no movie can replace real friendships, the success of the film probably has much to do with this phenomenon. And to the degree that it brings a few minutes of pleasure, what can it hurt? I actually saw the movie this weekend with an old buddy named Rich. Like “Sex and the City” was for women. this is an “event” film — an excuse to get out of the house with some buddies. So watch the movie, and live vicariously through the characters. For $10 and two hours, you’ll get a virtual weekend with our buddies in Vegas or Bangkok — or wherever. And you get to keep your finger and face as they are. That’s not a bad deal, really…