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Andy Bockelman

Andy Bockelman's movie reviews appear in the Craig Daily Press and Saturday Morning Press.

To get an accurate summation of "The Hangover," first think of "Three Men and a Baby" meets "The Three Stooges" meets "Dude, Where's My Car?"

Then, as an optional step, throw back a shot of Jagermeister and get ready to roll.

Before taking the matrimonial leap, every man needs a bachelor party, and Doug (Justin Bartha) is no exception.

His lifelong best friends, Phil and Stu (Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms), are set to make sure a night of debauchery is of the utmost priority. With Doug's awkward brother-in-law-to-be (Zach Galifianakis) in tow, they head for Sin City. Hitting Las Vegas with a passion, they are ready for a night they'll never forget - until the next morning.

As the three groomsmen awaken, the only thing more agonizing than their headaches is their confusion, as Doug is nowhere to be found. While they try to retrace their steps, they discover that the night's events were even crazier than they had planned.

And the wedding deadline is getting closer and closer.

It's a veritable trifecta with the talents of Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis filling their respective roles ideally. Making this all the better is that these actors get the chance to shine as stars, with a majority of supporting and ensemble roles among them.

With "Wedding Crashers" and "He's Just Not That Into You" under his belt, Cooper can play the sleazy heartthrob in his sleep, doing fine as hedonistic Phil.

Helms is even better as straight man Stu, a dentist with a shrewish girlfriend (Rachael Harris), who fears for his career and his relationship as he wakes up with an incisor missing from his mouth and the engagement ring he inherited from his grandmother on the finger of a stripper (Heather Graham).

But it's Galifianakis who makes the movie as Alan, an extreme introvert whose actions - hugging while wearing only a T-shirt and jockstrap, kissing his dog, slicing his hand open in a misguided blood brothers pact - keep getting odder, but funnier. The capper would have to be the parody of the casino scene of "Rain Man" as he racks up cash on the blackjack tables.

As far as buddy comedies go, you can't best director Todd Phillips.

The maker of "Road Trip" and "Old School" knows how to bring out the best of raunchy male humor. And what better place to set it than that bastion of traditional men's club behavior known as Vegas?

But, between the obligatory shots of Caesar's Palace and the rest of the strip, there is more focus on the friendship of these clueless guys as they suffer from everything from tiger attacks to being Tasered by schoolchildren to facing off against Mike Tyson.

Of course, the worst is the dreaded prospect of admitting to the bride (Sasha Barrese) back home that they lost her man. Granted, it's all far too outlandish to believe, but anything is possible in Vegas, isn't it?

If you don't believe it, just take a look at the post-film outtakes of what actually happens during the bachelor party. When taken in perspective, the aftermath is downright tame.

Like its titular condition, "The Hangover" isn't for everyone.

But keeping in mind that it comes from the creator of a character such as Frank "The Tank" of "Old School" fame, you know what's coming when you take a swig of this potent elixir of male bonding.

However, a word of advice, fellas: keep your ladies away from the theater if you ever want to go to Nevada again.