CHAMPAIGN — There’s only one hangover that I’m looking forward to. I’ll give you a hint: it’s playing at Ebertfest at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Virginia Theatre.
You got it, I’m talking about Todd Phillips’ “The Hangover” with megastars Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper.
Turns out, I’m not the only one who’s pumped to see the Golden Globe-winning film for Best Comedy.
“OH MY GAH. The first time I watched ‘The Hangover,’ my jaw was literally sitting on my boobs. It’s a mixture of being horrified and hilarious,” says “That’s What She Said” co-founder Kerry Rossow, who knows a thing or two about being funny. “I can’t wait!”
When the film debuted in 2009, I was busy chasing around my two seemingly hungover toddlers — they were rather irritable and puked all the time. So seeing a movie about hangovers — or any movies, for that matter — was pretty far down my to-do list.
Admittedly, I still haven’t seen the film. But I won’t miss the chance to see it on the big screen this time around.
Even my spouse, Paul Pyrz, is gung-ho for the show on Saturday night. He made me watch a YouTube compilation of the “Dan Band,” the fictional band in the movie that also cameoed in “Starsky and Hutch” and “Old School.”
Paul is fired up for the post show Q&A with producer Scott Budnick. He wants to find out how he can book the Dan Band for our 10th wedding anniversary next year. Dear Lord, please help me.
Now, I know better than to take my spouse’s word on anything related to movies (“Godzilla” and “The Lego Movie” are two of his favorites.) So I decided to ask new and experienced Ebertfesters attending a kickoff reception at the UI president’s house to share their thoughts on “The Hangover” and why they’re excited to see it this weekend.
NATE KOHN
Festival director, on how he got “The Hangover” and the film’s producer to come to Ebertfest 2025
“I was on a panel last December at the Bahamas International Film Festival. And on the panel with me was Scott Budnick, who was the producer of ‘The Hangover.’ And it occurred to me that we’re always talking about how we need more comedies. And so I just took the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, would you like to come to Champaign-Urbana?’ And he said yes.”
JOE KUNKEL
Retired director of facilities, UI College of Veterinary Medicine
“I think it was patterned after the bachelor party I went to. Did I say that out loud? … I thought it was fantastic. The unexpected changes around every corner — nothing was predictable.”
DEANNE JOHNSON
Assistant dean for advancement, UI College of Media
“It was better than I expected, but then it got ridiculous. … It was a little absurd.”
BRAND FORTNER
Founder of Cyberfest, which eventually became Ebertfest
“I really like ‘The Hangover’ because it got the timing right and it got the tone right because comedy exists when you’re on that hairy edge between boring and completely inappropriate. And so great comedies like ‘The Hangover,’ ‘Airplane,’ those comedies are right on that edge. … Choosing ‘The Hangover’ was just a brilliant move by the powers that be.”
AARON ANASTOS
UI junior and 2025 Ebert Fellow
“Love it, yeah. It’s like a cornerstone of American comedy. It’s kind of shaped like so many movies that came after it. Top 10 for sure for its genre, definitely. The way they structure the central cast is really smart. I think that the way the three main characters play off each other really fits the narrative.
“But I think what makes it so good is that it’s so accessible, because it’s basically just a hangout movie in Vegas. There’s not like a super intricate plot. There’s stakes, but there’s not extremely high stakes. It’s more like a hangout movie with a bunch of funny characters. So I think that’s what gives it such a broad appeal — anybody can really see themselves in the characters.”
CHAZ EBERT
Co-founder and producer of Ebertfest
“This film made me realize the amazing flexibility of all the actors, but especially Bradley Cooper. Shortly after the film debuted in America, I ran into Bradley in Cannes and was surprised to see him speaking perfect French while being interviewed on French television, a far cry from his ‘Hangover’ character.
“Both Roger and I enjoyed the outrageousness of the movie, and I look forward to hearing the laughter and excitement from the packed house in the Virginia Theatre.”
ROGER EBERT
From his 3½-star 2009 review
“Now this is what I’m talkin’ about. ‘The Hangover’ is a funny movie, flat out, all the way through. Its setup is funny. Every situation is funny. Most of the dialogue is funny almost line by line.
“At some point, we actually find ourselves caring a little about what happened to the missing bridegroom — and the fact that we almost care is funny, too.”