What Happens In Vegas

PASSING THOUGHTS
This movie reminded me of an Improv game where players are given random sentences that they have to work into a dictated situation. The end result tends to be amusing, but it’s also understandably contrived and usually somewhat awkward.

Every plot has certain points that need to be hit to move the story along and allow the characters to show some kind of growth. Ideally these points are submerged inside the story, disguised as dialogue and events that happen naturally based on circumstances. For the most part, “Vegas” doesn’t achieve any kind of subtlety when it comes to said plot points. The reasons for certain lines and situations become all-too-apparent the instant they develop, which makes this love story seem more forced than most. Instead of the movie being like a real person with muscles and sinews working together to create fluid movement, “Vegas” was more like a skeleton that had the necessary pieces in place but had nothing to animate them.

The main reason for the overt contrivances seems to be a noble attempt to give the movie a depth and a heart that it shouldn’t have had. When a movie premise is a gimmick or a bizarre circumstance, the film can go two ways: it can either take the uniqueness seriously and use it as a creative way to expose something equally unique about life, or it can use the gimmick to set the stage for a series of increasingly ridiculous and implausible events that, if done well, allow hilarity to ensue before injecting a touch of sentimentality at the end. Films like “Bruce Almighty”, “Notting Hill” and “Stranger than Fiction” take the former approach, allowing what comedy there is come about as a natural byproduct of the situation, whereas films like “Liar Liar” and “Rat Race” are essentially designed to be a string of laughs.

“Vegas” was designed to be a laughter platform but tried to take itself seriously at certain points; naturally those points stuck out like sore thumbs and robbed the film of its comedic flow.

On the plus side, the film was far less crass than it might have been. For the most part it avoided truly low-brow antics and didn’t turn to rampant nudity, graphic sex, or gratuitous substance abuse to illicit laughs. There were some good lines and reactions throughout, and while the characters were mostly caricatures, they weren’t obnoxious or annoying.

BASICS

Your Cup O’ Tea:
If you want a casual romp that revolves around pranks and one-upmanship and doesn’t require any emotional attachment, or if you enjoy Ashton Kutcher movies in general.

Steer Clear:
If you’re looking for traditional romance, you enjoy the gradual progression of love into a relationship, or you’re seeking smart comedy.

Nothing New Under the Sun:
While no particular movie comes to mind as a precedent for this one, it does focus on a typical antagonistic relationship—albeit one that’s more exaggerated than most. If you’re familiar with the sitcom “Frasier”, think of Ross and Bulldog. In some ways it feels like a less mature, less intelligent version of “27 Dresses”, where both parties are constantly at odds with each other.

Buy or Rent:
RENT. No special features, no draw for a repeat viewing. Obviously if you found the shenanigans funny you’ll enjoy watching it again and again, but for the most part you can glean all there is to glean from one pass.

FEATURES

-Languages

-Scenes

-Trailers
“Deal”, “Charlie Bartlett”, “Marley and Me”—Teaser

Woulda Been Nice: Once again I’ll revert to the gag reel—outtakes for comedies are always nice. Not much else to look for in terms of bonus features; it’s pretty cut and dry.