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The Hangover

(2009, Rated R, Comedy, Starring Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Funny, yes, but chock-full of alcohol-fueled adult content.

Themes in this movie include:   friendship, substance abuse

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 17–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The movie's message is, at best, a little muddled; while the three main characters pay a price for their misadventures -- beatings, dehydration, sunburn, and more -- everything works out well in the end.
  • Role models :

    Friends act despicably, but pay the price. While some female characters are depicted as life partners and positive influences, some are depicted as nagging harridans or simple sex objects.
  • Violence:

     Beatings, vehicular mayhem, the use of stun guns on "volunteers" in front of children (with children, in two cases, operating the stun guns/tazers), beatings with crowbars, and a gunshot wound to an innocent bystander. One character spends much of the film lamenting an excised tooth -- a bleeding, gaping wreck of a lost incisor. Some gunplay. A baby is hit in the head with a car door and is present during a few scenes of peril.
  • Sex:

    Extensive male and female nudity, including nude buttocks and breasts. Discussion of sexual acts, techniques, and one character's work as an "escort." Photos of nudity and explicit sexual acts (including glimpsed male genitalia) in the closing-credits montage. Explicit discussions of infidelity, one-night stands, and other acts. Mimed mock bestiality for comedic effects. A character notes that he cannot be within 200 yards of  "A school ... or a Chuck E. Cheese," implying that he's on some kind of serial offender watchlist.
  • Language:

    Extensive, inventive, and constant vulgarity, including "f--k" and its derivations, "ass," "f--got," "douchebag," "whore," "gay," "hell," "shaft," "s--t," "Jesus," "semen," "retard," "bitch," "goddamn," "oh my God," "butt," "weenus," "bastard," "balls," "assholes," "nuts,"  and much, much more.
  • Consumerism:

    Mentions and on-screen display of brands includes many mentioned as plot points, including Caesar's Palace, Mercedes-Benz, Chuck E. Cheese, Rogaine, Monster Energy Drink, Gremlins, Indiana Jones, Rain Man, Jagermeister, Carnival Cruises, and more. 
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The entire film revolves around excessive drinking and drug abuse. Characters drink beer, wine, and hard liquor to excess. A character thinks he's giving his friends Ecstasy without their consent but is, in fact, giving them "Roofies," the "date rape drug." Mentions of cocaine, crystal meth, and crank abuse. Drunk driving is implied. Photos in the closing-credits montage depict cocaine use. Reference to marijuana. It's worth noting that the brutal consequences of drug and alcohol abuse -- aches, memory loss, vomiting, humiliation, and despair -- are depicted unflinchingly.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Hangover

Parents need to know that this hilarious but extremely raunchy comedy from the director of Old School is decidedly not for younger teens. Let's face it: The movie's whole premise involves drinking and being drugged. There's lots of comedic violence, sex, substance abuse, and over-the-top language. While you could stretch and suggest that there's a message about friendship and responsibility, that's like suggesting that Twinkies and soda contain some vitamin C. Still, this movie is turning out to be the teen buzz movie of the summer of 2009.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the ritual of the bachelor party -- is it a chance for real bonding or simple immature excess?
  • Families can also discuss the image of Las Vegas as a playground for grown-ups; how much of that is innocent fun, and how much of it is simply seedy marketing language?
  • Finally, families can talk about the film's excessive depiction of violence, sex, and substance abuse -- is the film condoning or glorifying this kind of behavior?

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Our Members Say

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See all 53 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Best movie ever!!

    LOL!!! Funniest movie ever! I wouldn't lets your kids see this but its SO FUNNY!!!!!!!!

  2. I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    FUNNY!!!!

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    Pretty darn funny. (:

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    There really isn't that many parts that aren't bad, but I am a very mature person, who can handle this type of movie. This movie is sooooo hilarious, bad but the best, i love it! definitely my favorite! Despite the crude things in it, it is a must see for anyone over 15!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    There really isn't that many parts that aren't bad, but I am a very mature person, who can handle this type of movie. This movie is sooooo hilarious, bad but the best, i love it! definitely my favorite! Despite the crude things in it, it is a must see for anyone over 15!

  6. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

  7. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Needs to get zero stars

    How can anyone with common sense or TASTE call this film "hilarious"? It may be the worst movie I have seen in 40 years! My partner hated it,too. We didn't hear any more than a couple of weak chuckles from the rest of the audience. Zero stars - A waste of time for anyone with a brain.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Great For Me, Not Sure About You

    EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS MOVIE. And I like it. My grandma took me to see it, and I don't exactly think it's right for OTHERS in my age group. I'm much more mature than I should be at my age, so it was alright for me, but for others I don't know. It's completely uncensored. I'll give you that.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    IT'S A FUNNY MOVIE.

    I LOVED THIS. IT'S VERY EXPLICIT BUT, IF YOU CAN HANDLE YOUR TEEN HEAR THAT AND ONE SCENE OF BREAST-FEEDING AN THE END CREDITS, IT'S A MUST SEE.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Funniest movie i have ever seen

    I thought this movie looked pretty good from the trailer and when i actually saw the movie i was surprised to find that it was actually better than thought it would be. It was Soooo funny. It also isn't that inapropriate. Theres language and nudity yes but whatever. The credits have to be the funniest part of the whole movie.

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    i love this movie. this moive is one of my favorites. there is just some sexual content and nudity with bad language that makes the movie innopropriate.

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    prefect for anybody

    i loved it anyone over the age that can see it i think you would like it i was laughing the hole time. parents you should take your kids to see this movie and you want know why and the reason is kids these days know more than you think so just take them its a good exprince to see it.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Funniest movie ever. But not for the faint-hearted

    This is definnanetly an R rating. And rightfully so, lots of talk of graphic sex and drinking, also be noted (at least in the movies) on the credits there are some REALLY graphic pictures. But man this is the best comedy of the year so far. It's hilarious. Anyone that will get any of the jokes is old enough to watch it. Wether you think so or not your kid knows more than you think.

  15. Kid Reviewer Age -1
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Soggy Mushrooms

    Good movie for my children.

  16. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Not Inapproprite At All

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Very, very funny movie for ADULTS... Yes there is nudity (including frontal nudity). The movie contains bad language, lots of drinking, drugs, violence (hand to hand fighting), and many inappropriate moments. But, for adults, the movie is hilarious.

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 1.0

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in District of Columbia
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Good for anybody who wants a good laugh!

    This was a HALRIOUS movie! it was soo funny but a little innapropraite for me to see.

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