Cult Classic Corner! The Hangover! Jack Falls In Love With The Raunchy Classic & Meets Zach Galifianakis! Justin Bartha! Ken Jeong! But Gets Dissed By Bradley Cooper & Ed Helms! Doh!

With The Hangover Part 3 hitting theaters this friday, Jack is taking a look at the original film for this weeks Cult Classic Corner!

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“Hey they’re skittles in there!” For almost the past five years, “The Hangover” franchise has endured as one of the most quotable film series of all time with its over the top  raunchy scripts. However, there was a time when most mainstream Americans didn’t know Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and especially, Zach Galifianakis.



Before the film that “truly launched their careers,” I was a huge fan of Brad and Zach’s. You see Brad was in one of my favorite films (“Wet Hot American Summer”) and short lived TV shows (“Kitchen Confidential”), but was best known as the asshole boyfriend to Rachel McAdams’ character in “Wedding Crashers.” Unless you appreciated alternative comedy (like seeing The Comedians of Comedy- live!), there was no way you knew who Zach was despite the fact he had bit parts and cameos in dozens of movies/TV shows throughout the millennium.



“The Hangover” film came out around my birthday and as a matter of fact was the first movie I saw after turning 21. So this film will always hold a special place in my heart.


 “Van Wilder” tried to be the new, hip version of “Animal House,” but “The Hangover” truly  showcased the wild, crazy side we wish could happen in true life.



“The Hangover” is about three friends Phil (Cooper), Stu (Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha), who visit Vegas for Doug’s bachelor party and bring along Doug’s future brother in law, Alan (Galifianakis). What was supposed to be a simple, wild night turns into one crazy adventure as The Wolfpack (dubbed affectionately by Alan) have to search all of Las Vegas for Doug and get him home in time for the wedding. Along the way they meet a stripper, Mike Tyson, a very angry Asian guy, Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong in his scene stealing role) and get in a heap of trouble.



I love this film and every time before I visit Vegas I watch it. Sure the jokes aren’t as fresh, especially after the sequel literally lifted almost every joke and similar scenario, but it still holds up when you disregard the second one. For me, the film will always hold a special place in my heart.



Back in 2010 I had the fortune of meeting Zach at a Comedy Death Ray event and got three things signed thanks to my awesome best friend. Zach was really cool, but not as “laid back” as he once was pre- “Hangover” fame. Before the film came out, he would graciously interact with fans and be over the top nice. Now, he was just readjusting to being super recognizable and tried to accommodate people with their requests.

Even inside only about 10 people or so wanted autographs and/or pictures. Luckily I managed to get my “Hangover” DVD and Blu-ray (which by the way, was the first film I ever bought) signed before he took off.



Later on I managed to get Ken Jeong at the first “Community” Paleyfest in 2011 and he was crazy nice. Not only did he take pictures with tons of fans, but literally jumped into the crowd. I managed to get my “Hangover” DVD and Paley program signed, but due to angry security guears, theykicked him out after taking a dozen more photos. Still, I don’t think there has been a time when he hasn’t been nice. Hopefully I will get that picture one day.



At that point I decided I would only get the main five to sign my DVD, which included “Doug,” “Phil,” “Stu,” “Alan,” and “Chow.” In late 2009 I did meet Mike Tyson at a DVD signing for his titular documentary, “Tyson” at the Hollywood/Vine Borders. However, it was impossible for anyone to get anything else signed even though a few dealers managed to get some before he sat down at the signing table (I had brought a boxing photo and a “Hangover” poster, which I later returned to my car). 



Eventually I met “Doug,” Justin Bartha, at a screening of “Dark Horse” . The rumors about him were quite true and he didn’t seem to enjoy interacting with fans. Even though I was the only one who asked and got his autograph (inside), Justin quickly rushed out after signing my DVD and didn’t even look back. I didn’t even have a chance to discuss some of his indie work, particularly “Holy Rollers,” still I managed to get one of the “hardest” of the cast members on it.



Now I was down to two, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms, one of the “easiest” and the “hardest” respectively to obtain. Thanks to his Oscar nomination for “Silver Linings Playbook,” Bradley Cooper was out and about nonstop last year/early 2013. However, by the time I met him, he seemed really burnt out and “no longer the same super ridiculously nice signer” he once was during awards season (or so I have been told). At a talk show taping earlier this year, it looked great until 75 people showed up last minute after getting stiffed at a premiere happening across the way. Not only were the new people rude and unresponsive to security’s requests (right before Cooper came out) I later found out they told Brad NOT TO SIGN as a result. Needless to say I walked away disappointed and initially chalked it up as awards season frustrations/exhaustion. Later on I decided it was douchebag dealers who ruined it, not Cooper. Hopefully I can meet him another day.



However, the Pièce de résistance belongs to Ed Helms. I have never heard anything nice about him except for a “Cedar Rapids” screening with the cast, which I foolishly passed up and he signed his “heart away” at. Earlier this week, Helms appeared on a talk show and I decided to make the trek down. Unfortunately for me, days before the taping I discovered it was the same day as his premiere, which gave me no hope at all. Still, you “NEVER KNOW” in this hobby. I stayed the entire time for a few hours and got ignored three times despite having a “Hangover” bobble head and my cast DVD.  

Don’t worry, you’ll read more about it as a future Fanboy Fail. I’m still disappointed. Until the next time, Happy autograph hunting!