Santikos Cine-opsis

Every week (almost), I host the “Preview Review” segment on KABB Fox 29.  (If you don’t believe me, click here.)  Each week, I end my segment with the line “Until next time, when you’re going to the movies, don’t miss the previews.”  That’s usually pretty sound advice.  However, in the case of the new Todd Phillips movie “The Hangover,” DO NOT, under any circumstances, watch the previews. 

Because if you do, you may miss out or ruin what could very well be the funniest movie of 2009.  “The Hangover” is a hilariously raunchy, over the top, debaucherriffic ride that is absolutely sullied if you know the jokes ahead of time.  So much of “The Hangover” is predicated on surprise…the tiger in the bathroom, Mike Tyson’s kareoke cameo, Ed Helms’ toothless discovery…it’s just not the same if you’ve seen it all ten times in advance.

I’m just saying, sometimes a movie can be mis-promoted.  I was watching TV with my parents tonight and a new trailer for “The Hangover” popped on the screen.  In 30 seconds, the trailer ruined about 8 or 9 new jokes that hadn’t been shown in the other previews.  Then, my mom turns to me and says “THAT movie looks AWFUL!” 

It’s tragic, really.  The film’s misguided promotional strategy not only ruined many of the jokes for the films fans (and set up the inevitable complaint that “all the best jokes were in the previews”, even though they arent), but it also gave prospective viewers a poor opinion of the film.  Like Phillips’ “Old School”, “The Hangover” is a superficially sophomoric premise that turns out to be every bit as silly and stupid as you expect, and yet, in the end, is also much more intelligent than it appears.  But that’s very hard to put in a 60 second spot. 

It’s my job to watch previews of upcoming films.  Many times, those trailers generate levels of xcitement and anticipation that ultimately make the experience of seeing the film more gratifying.  Sometimes they turn off viewers who would otherwise really enjoy the film.  I think “The Hangover” is in real danger of not being as successful as it should be because of an inept promotional campaign (also known as the “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”).  

So go see “The Hangover”.  You’ll be glad you did.  But please, before you do….ignore the previews.