The Hangover (2009)

“The Hangover” is the funniest, most insane and out-there Hollywood comedy I’ve seen in years. The plot: Four L.A. guys (headed by Bradley Cooper of “Alias”) arrive in Vegas for a honeymoon bash. Only three of the men awake the next morning with a chicken, a hungry tiger and a screaming infant scattered about their $4,000 per night suite, with a stolen police cruiser waiting outside and a missing groom God only knows where. I’ve just scratched the surface, not even mentioning the naked, gay Chinese gangster. In a genius move in line with the heist in “Reservoir Dogs,” director/co-writer Todd Phillips doesn’t even try to explain how all these pieces came together or fell apart. The jokes – crude and rude, and consisting mostly of “I can’t believe I did that” jaw-droppers – come fast and must require multiple viewings to fully intake. The kicker: “Hangover” is weirdly sweet riff on the lengths friends will drive to protect their own, whilst avoiding the rage of a bride. Zack Galifianakis is the stand out as an oddball with a “Rain Man” fetish. A