What Happens In Vegas

Review by Sean Lynch

When What Happens In Vegas hit cinemas and became a surprise hit in early 2008, it did it without much of a struggle. In fact, it had the advantage of screening prior to Blockbuster season (arguably the biggest box office season we ever had) with audiences spoiled with The Incredible Hulk, Prince Caspian, Indiana Jones, The Dark Knight).

It was a clever bit of counter programming when you think about it (a move which garnered over $200M at the worldwide box office) it's just a shame that the rom-com's couldn't lift their game like the big budget actioners did.

What Happens In Vegas is, again, everything you would expect and... well, that's it. It doesn't deliver expectations and more, but on the same token, it isn't delivering less (something which Made of Honour certainly did).

This run-of-the-mill vehicle for Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher follows two strangers who awaken together in Vegas to discover they've gotten hitched following a night of drinking & gambling while in the infamous Sin City. Just get a divorce - no problems, right? 

Wrong!

Things soon get tricky when Kutcher strikes it rich on a pokie machine ($3 Million to be precise) after playing with Diaz's coin. In a race to get the $3M in divorce settlements (cue the Heather Mills gags everyone!), the newlyweds begin to devise ever escalating schemes to undermine each other in order to get their hands on the loot – only to find themselves falling in love amid the mutual backstabbing.

There are some good laughs to be had here, with Kutcher and Diaz playing perfectly off each other. But much like Kutcher's Just Married - Vegas is ultimately yet another fairly disposable Friday night distraction.

Not that it's a problem, because it's money well spent if you're a fan of the genre - it's just at this stage of Kutcher and Diaz's careers, they really need to start delivering something a tad more memorable.

And if they don't deliver soon, their careers may soon go down the crapper (which, it seems, is exactly what happens when your Vegas husband steals the toilet seat from the bowl).

DVD EXTRAS

While Sony in the US have been pedaling this sort of technology for over a year now, Australia finally jumped on the digital bandwagon. However, it's somewhat of a strange choice to launch it on such a so-so title.

For the first ever time in Australia the DVD with come with a Digital Copy of the film, which is compatible with iTunes and Windows Media. The Digital Copy can be easily transferred to your computer, Video iPod, iPhone, and other portable media players, so you can experience the fun wherever you go.

It's the sort of thing that will make DVDs irrelevant, so it's kind of sneaky the DVD companies weening people off the discs as we move forward to an iPod run future.

Conclusion: Movie 60% Extras: 60%