14-6-09 Can't believe I haven't written a review for the whole of 2009, watch this space...
14-6-09 Can't believe I haven't written a review for the whole of 2009, watch this space...
Member since:02.06.2007
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Vegas was the setting for the recent box office smash based on the true story of a group of intelligent youths paying for their scholarship through card counting, so it is only appropriate that a few months down the line we should have another Las Vegas film to equal out the clever-dumb balance and that comes in the shape of an entirely fictional rom-com, 'What Happens in Vegas'. Whilst my intro may shun the film as being nothing more than a chick flick, ever since first seeing the trailer at a screening for another movie there has been something appealing about Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher co-starring in a movie, and it did make for a relaxing Friday night experience. On the other hand reviews were attempting to kill any slight anticipation I had for the movie, by publishing reviews that stated the movie would only be enjoyed by the sort of people that use the words 'like' and 'wow' a lot.
If you want to get an immediate idea of just how light-hearted you should be taking this movie, the opening scene has Mika playing in the background as we get an overview of what a wonderful city New York is. "I could be brown,
I could be blue, I could be violet sky," and with that you wonder how they'll manage to make Diaz and Kutcher bump into one another -- afterall they are both leading incredibly different lives. Joy McNally (Diaz) is a stockbroker engaged to a grumpy businessman who has $30,000 to splash out on rings when he doesn't even really intend to marry Joy, and this comes as a shock to the system for Joy as she gets dumped in the hallway whilst all her friends hide in the dark for the surprise birthday party she has planned for her fiance. Luckily for Joy she has a hard-hitting bestfriend, Tipper (Lake Bell) who suggests the pair of them use the birthday trip she had planned to Vegas on themselves.
Across the city you have Jack Fuller (Kutcher) working as a carpenter for his father, until one day he decides his laid-back attitude just isn't cutting it anymore and gives him his P45. Jack drowns his sorrows with meaningless sex involving girl scout outfits and dares of who can down a pint the fastest in his local bar. Jack and his bestfriend, Hater (Rob Corddry), also decide to go to Vegas and so the scene for the pairs to bump into one another is set. Whilst unfortunately for the everyday man we are unlikely to be able to bump into Cameron Diaz, then get the VIP treatment around Vegas with penthouse suites and stretched hummers, we can all dream about being in Kutcher's position -- who appears to prefer being the junior in relationships these days. Whatever floats his boat I say.
'What Happens In Vegas' has a strong theme of the co-stars daring one another, but a dare too far sees Joy and Jack becoming Mr & Mrs Fuller. After sitting down at the breakfast table together it has that strong feeling of a Ross and Rachel marriage in 'Friends', where they awkwardly scoot around the subject of divorce. The married couple then go off to discuss the matter at the slots, where they have their first argument since getting hitched as Joy takes offence to Jack trying to dump her father than the other way around. Jack labels Joy as a lot of work in a relationship, whilst Joy hits Jack with the insult of not being relationship material. In the chaos of things Jack plays Joy's quarter, and before you know it they've got a triple jackpot. So as if sleeping with Cameron Diaz wasn't enough, they now have $3 million. And the obscurity of things does not end there as back in NYC the judge goes on a tangent about the kids these days making a joke out of marriage, and says they shall have to act like a married couple for six months if they ever hope to get their hands on the money.
If only people could be so lucky in real life, but if you do not get stuck up in bitterness towards the movies situation then you should be able to enjoy the hour and a half of Diaz and Kutcher making eachothers lives hell, whilst Tipper and Hater argue in the background. Moments you will have seen in the trailer do make for some of the best scenes, but there is usually more to them than what were shown in promotions. These include an all out party in the Fuller's martial apartment where Joy has got her friends to try and get Jack to cheat on her, so then Joy would be entitled to the entire $3 million. Queen Latifah makes a good appearance as the marriage councillor, Dr Twitchell, and the movie is genuinely funny. There is also positive messages to the movie (in a sense) where Joy meets Jack's parents, and Jack is so happy that his father is finally proud of him that they strike a deal to get her to keep up the lie. You know what is going to happen in the end, but that doesn't make it any less 'cute'... ahem, I mean, it's a great thought of Kutcher to be banging Diaz. Even if she is getting on a bit. Definitly a teens movie, that is met with a 12A age certificate, and a fun fact for you -- the stars were genuinely intoxicated for the wedding scene.
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After a wild night of partying, two mismatched strangers, Jack (Ashton Kutcher) and Joy ... more
(Cameron Diaz), wake up in Las Vegas to discover they've gotten married! The road to annulment takes a hilarious turn after Jack wins a huge jackpot with Joy's quar...
What Happens In Vegas stars Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher as Joy and Jack two strangers ... more
who wake up together to find that they've gotten married following a night of debauchery in Sin City. To make matters worse one of them has won a huge jackpot af...
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![What Happens In Vegas [DVD] [2008]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/80218874.jpg "What Happens In Vegas [DVD] [2008]")
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