Redefining the terms ‘guilty pleasure’ and ‘dark comedy.’ The Hangover comes out of left field to be the funniest film since Tropic Thunder, with an even stronger dose of testosterone and hysterical non sequiturs. Don’t let the trailers fool you—they hardly do this film justice. This is not your basic Las Vegas romantic comedy, drama or thriller. It creates its own, outrageous genre that will keep you rolling on the floor with laughter all the way through.

Amazingly enough, director Todd Phillips (Old School, School for Scoundrels) was able to accomplish all this without a big-name cast. Doug, the handsome friend, is played by Bradley Cooper (He’s Just Not That Into You, Yes Man). Justin Bartha, who is best known for the National Treasure films, is the ill-fated groom. Ed Helms, who plays Andy Bernard in The Office, is the nerdy, hen-pecked dentist; and the extremely weird, future brother-in-law, at one point referred to as “the fat Jesus,’ is Zach Galafianakis, whom you’ve probably never noticed in anything before. These four friends go on a wild ride for a one night bachelor party in Vegas, and end up entangling themselves with Mike Tyson’s tiger, a naked Asian man wielding a tire jack, a stripper with a heart of gold, a baby left in the closet, a stolen police car, a tawdry quickie wedding, tasers and more, so much more. Just when things verge on being too black to be funny, the film expertly swerves back to the humorous. This is a film that is best taken with a grain of salt and a shot of tequila. Don’t look for morals or lessons – there are none. But do stay through the bitter end. Some of the biggest laughs come in the shocking final credits.

Rated R

—Lisa Johnson Mandell