Friday, June 5, 2009

Movie Review: The Hangover (2009)

SCORE
-2/5-

CAST
  • Bradley Cooper: Phil Wenneck.
  • Ed Helms: Stu Price.
  • Zach Galifanakis: Alan Garner.
  • Justin Bartha: Doug Billings.
  • Directed by Todd Phillips.

STORY

"A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him" (source: imdb.com).

REVIEW

Never before have I wanted more to give a movie 0/5 in score, but I have to admit that this film qualifies, on our objective scale (which you can read here), warrants a 2: "the movie has some value, but it fails to accomplish 1 or more of its goals."

The Hangover meets its basic goal of providing crude humor to those who appreciate it. Occasionally, it even provides a few brief moments of non-crass humor. I laughed at this movie, and, in restrospect, I am not proud of this.

The premise is clever enough: a bunch of groomsmen lose the groom following his bachelor party: they just can't seem to remember what happened the night before, and they have but mere hours in which to figure it out and get the groom to the altar. That might have been the start of a hilarious movie all can enjoy. Instead, the movie fell to a level of crassness and crude humor that degrades its audience more than it entertains. In this respect, the movie fails to offer a comedy that will entertain many members of its intended audience not deterred by the R-rating. This movie, by the way, should have been rated NC-17, which I found to be deceptive. Shame on the MPAA - it has lost all sense of morality and ethics.

PROS: Funny premise and clever dialogue, with competent performances by all actors. Well directed, technically speaking. The solution to the mystery of what happened to the groom is also unique and, in many ways, genuinely funny without being crass or crude.

CONS: Nudity, foul language, violence, pornographic content, drug use, glorification of prostitution, and a dark display of amorality that will leave you wishing you could forget having ever seen it.

FINAL THOUGHT: Do NOT take minors to see this film. Do NOT see this film if you are offended by any of the above. We do not make recommendations that people go see any given movie or refrain from going to see any given movie, but, trust me, as a Christian, you will be embarrassed and ashamed to have seen this piece of garbage. I know that I am. So, just short of telling you not to go see this movie, I encourage you to read this review and make the right decision on your own.

BOTTOM LINE: 2/5.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The self-righteous don't need a doctor...

What is the one greatest thing that I have going for me spiritually?

I know that I am a sinner. I confess that I have messed up each day of my life in some way and that, often, I am unaware of many more sins that I commit.

Like the allegation levied against the blind man by the Pharisees, I was steeped in sin from birth. Unlike the Pharisees, however, I admit it. I believe it, and I recognize that I need forgiveness. This confession is not a weakness but a strength. A sick man can get help only after admitting to himself that he needs to seek it.

"On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick'" (Matt 9:12, NIV) (emphasis supplied) .

The Pharisees could not understand why Jesus ate with tax-collectors and sinners because they were self-righteous, convinced in their mastery of the old law. They were so convinced of their own righteousness, attained through their own work and efforts, that they could not see the point in associating with anyone unlike themselves. They could not see the great commission because they were interested in ministering only to those like themselves.

The difference between the Pharisees and the sinners Jesus was eating with was that the sinners were not convinced of their own righteousness. For that reason alone, they could received treatment from the master physician.

How many reading this are proud or think that they know all the answers? How many are too quick to point a fingers at the faults of others rather than pointing a finger at their own sins? Will you point an accusing finger at yourself? If you cannot do that, then you are not prepared to receive all that Christ has to offer for your life.

Yes, we all mistakes. Yes, we all sin. The sooner we all accept this, the sooner Jesus can get to work performing his soul-saving medicine.

None of us are righteous by our own efforts. Only by the blood of Jesus are we made righteous.

"...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith" (Phil 3:9, ESV).