The Hangover

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Release date: June 5

The morning after their buddy’s Las Vegas bachelor party, three guys wake up in a trashed hotel suite with no memory of why they’re all bruised and half-naked. Or why a chicken is wandering around the room. Or why the groom-to-be is missing, with 24 hours until his wedding. So begins this comic mystery smothered in Sin City depravity.

Director Phillips (Old School) looks back on the Vegas shoot with a mix of glee and guilt. ”When you’re comfortable walking around the blackjack tables in your pajamas on a Sunday afternoon,” he laughs, ”you know you’re in trouble.” Danger lurked on camera, too. The actors shot a few scenes with a live tiger — another odd remnant of their characters’ wild night (supposedly the property of boxer Mike Tyson, who cameos). ”Todd always had crazy ideas of what we could do with the tiger,” recalls Helms. ”Like ‘Can we throw steak on his face?’ And the trainer would say, ‘I don’t know. Let’s see what happens.’ It wasn’t exactly comforting.” Maybe not, but it looks like the risk paid off: Warner Bros. is already developing a sequel. Atlantic City, anyone?