.: Roberts' Reviews - Movie Reviews :.

If it hasn't happened to you, I am sure that you know someone that woke up the next day after a night of over indulgence drinking without remembering parts, pieces or a whole of the events to which they were center stage.

Such is the premise of the new comedy, The Hangover which has four men on a bachelor party excursion in Las Vegas running into more trouble than reality would allow.

The Hangover stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and Zack Galfianakis as Phil, Stu, Doug and Alan respectively. Doug is the one getting married. Phil, Stu and Alan will be the ones that run around Vegas trying to piece together the events of a night gone horribly horribly wrong.

With the setting established early, the real comedy starts when Phil, Stu and Alan wake up in a hotel room at Casears Palace that looks like Jim Morrison and Hunter S. Thompson partied in. They soon notice that Doug is not in the room and have to piece together the clues in their room to help figure out his whereabouts and get him back to LA in time for his wedding.

The clues are as multiple as they are humorous. A tiger, a missing tooth, an impaled mattress, a baby, a police car and a hospital bracelet lead these four dolts on an adventure that had more laughs than any film since Role Models.

Along their voyage, they will meet up with Mike Tyson, win $80k at blackjack, discover that Stu got married (to Heather Graham no less), get involved with a naked Asian gangster and be tasered repeatedly in a police station. What's not to laugh about?

Directed by Todd Phillips (Road Trip, Old School), The Hangover is a brisk laugh a scene riot that plays for laughs without forcing its comedy through the Gee-Wiz tube. The three main leads are believable in their respective characters and although Alan gets most of the laughs, all three of the leads provide ample entertainment value for the customer dollar.

He does overuse Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow a bit much, but among all the genuine chuckles, I can easily give him a get-out-of-jail-free card for what was only two or three scenes.

The end credits of The Hangover confirm why the film is rated-R. They show the still photos of the evening and help the audience piece together some of the situations that are delved into all too briefly during the film.

The end result is that The Hangover is an extremely intelligent comedy with teenage high jinx. The characters might not remember what the did the night before, but the viewing audience will surely be talking about this gem throughout the summer.