What Happens in Vegas Review

What Happens in Vegas reviews

Movie

What Happens in Vegas

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-06-03 20:49:59

Rating

3/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher are riotously funny together in one of the rare romantic comedies guys are gonna love as much as their dates. When was the last time THAT happened?

Story

This Vegas is an absolute sure bet for big laughs. A classic comic battle of the sexes romantic comedies have been doing successfully for years, from Tracy and Hepburn to Hudson and Day--and now Diaz and Kutcher. Jack Fuller (Kutcher) is a slacker carpenter just fired by his ungrateful father (Treat Williams). Joy McNally (Diaz) is a commodities trader who lives her life by the numbers--both professionally and personally--and has just been dumped by her fiancée (Jason Sudeikis). At the urging of their respective best friends Hater (Rob Corddry) and Tipper (Lake Bell), they head to Vegas for the weekend, designed to help them forget their big city woes. As in all films of this ilk, Jack and Joy "meet cute" when both sets of friends are accidentally booked into the same hotel room. Once that mess is sorted out, they all set off on a wild drunken party spree which ends with a blitzed Jack and Joy's nuptials at a quickie wedding chapel. As reality strikes along with the light of morning, the now-battling couple plan an annulment which becomes complicated when Jack hits a $3 million dollar slot jackpot with Joy's quarter. Both claim the cash but in order to get the money, a New York judge (Dennis Miller) determines they must prove they are serious about the marriage and gives them six months to become a real couple.

Acting

As with all the legions of "opposites attract" comedies Hollywood has dished out over the years, these confections live or die on the chemistry of the star--luckily for What Happens In Vegas, Diaz and Kutcher are well matched in every way. Of course, Diaz is no stranger to 'party girl' scenarios, so the early scenes fit her like a glove. Kutcher counters her nicely as a slacker dude caught up in circumstances beyond his control. An early sequence in which they check into the same room is played at such high-pitched hysteria--followed by a Vegas spree that seems so MTV-quick cut style-- you worry the film will not come back down to earth. But thanks to its stars and a generally fine supporting cast, the rest of the picture recovers in style and is played for laughs grounded in reality. Although this is essentially a Cameron/Ashton showcase, there are still some great wisecracks from the actors cast as their friends, particularly Bell (Over Her Dead Body) who aces her timing and delivery. Corddry also scores as Jack's loser friend and novice lawyer. In another era, it's the type of role Tony Randall would have played, and Corddry is inspired casting here. Comedian Miller is cast against type as the judge, and Williams has little do as Dad. For some reason, Queen Latifah, with no billing except on the end credits, accepted a bland role as a marriage counselor Jack and Joy are forced to see.

Direction

With his little-seen gem last year Starter for Ten starring James McAvoy, newcomer Tom Vaughan showed considerable skill directing character comedy. His first big studio outing is much broader but again confirms his talent for getting the best out of his stars. Vegas isn't loaded with style or signature shots, but it keeps us engaged for 98 minutes and sports a light tone that lets the audience have as much fun as the actors seem to be having. Early scenes in Las Vegas (only about 15 minutes of the entire film actually "happens" there, the rest in New York) are a bit too frenetic for their own good, but thankfully Vaughan gains his stride and the laughs come more smoothly once the story heads back to New York. The screenplay by Dana Fox smartly centers her clever story (with its inevitable conclusion) around the gradual attraction of the two leads who prove what happens in Vegas is only the beginning of the real fun.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.

Copyright © CinemaSource 2008.

Movie

What Happens In Vegas

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-04-25 16:40:21

Provider

MRIB

Review

Ashton Kutcher plays a lovable slacker who just doesn't get the whole marriage thing (see Just Married). You've got to wonder what his problem is? Well, he can't get on with Joy's (Cameron Diaz) uptight straight-laced, clean living attitude and see what a babe she is! Rom-com gold!

Joy, a Wall Street whizz, gets dumped by her high-flying boyfriend in front of all their friends while Jack (Kutcher) has been fired - by his own Dad! At times like these there's only one place to head for: Let your hair down, and anything else for that matter, and hit Vegas. Both (with their best pals in tow - excellent support from Coddry and Bell)) have the same idea. One shot-filled, wild-dancing night later and they wake to discover they're hitched. A three million dollar McGuffin from a fruit machine makes them seek a judge to separate, but he's having none of it and demands they try six months of marriage and "make a real effort". Easy? Not for a solo living bachelor with no job, no ambition (and no desire to clean) and his new wife - an ambitious, driven, organised (and clean) beauty. As they try to outwit each other through first class scheming and treachery you know this will end... first badly, but then romantically!

Rom-com's get short shrift in these days of action, adventure and sci-fi CGI. But how many times have you swooned at Cary Grant, Gary Cooper or Hepburn's (Katherine or Audrey) squabbles? James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacClaine's misunderstandings? even Rock and Doris's suburban antics? Well, heads up! The Rom-com is as strong as ever.

What Happens In Vegas proves every generation has their expert exponents of this fine line of film. Diaz can do demon, ditzy and then flutter her eyelashes and become a drop-dead gorgeous darling. Kutcher is the youngest talent to show a deft touch for these roles - developing a subtle maturity and a roll-call of films that separate him from the glut of pretty boys out there (maybe his older girlfriend is encouraging a mature perspective?). Together they can get away with lines lesser actors would end their careers with. They strike a chord that resonates right down the line of classic romantic comedy: From Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Capra's It Happened One Night via The Philadelphia Story, past Pillow Talk on to When Harry Met Sally and right up to Notting Hill (yes, Notting Hill!) and finishing up alongside Waitress and Knocked Up.

Yes, the Rom-com gets a rough ride in critical quarters, but secretly everyone'll love at least one or two in their lives. What Happens In Vegas normally stays in Vegas - but a little bit of it is bound to creep into your heart and soul. Rightly so - all hail the Rom com. As great today as they've ever been. And here's proof!

Copyright © MRIB 2008.