The Hangover Movie

Every summer has its surprise hit, and "The Hangover" is starting to look like this season's unexpected breakout. Even though the bachelor-party-gone-bad comedy doesn't open until June 5, "The Hangover" already is generating such positive reactions that Warner Bros. is developing a sequel, a strong vote of confidence for a movie with no big stars, no comic book tie-in and no obvious franchise traits.

When Todd Phillips checked in the other day, calling from London, the director of "The Hangover" was sounding somewhere between ebullient and ecstatic. And why not? His film is the surprise hit of the summer, winning last weekend's box-office derby with a potent $45-million opening. In an even more amazing development for a raunchy comedy populated with actors who are virtually unknown outside of the U.S.

Two new movies open today, but they have to deal with a major headache in the form of "The Hangover." The Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures R-rated comedy earned $7.7 million at the box office Monday, $6.6 million Tuesday, and $6.7 million Wednesday. Those are the biggest weekday grosses, excluding holidays, for any movie this year, higher than even the big event films "Star Trek" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." With $65.

Yes, there are enough impure thoughts in director Todd Phillips' dastardly black comedy to put you into a confessional for years, whether you're Catholic or not. Still, in the realm of guilty pleasures, it's hard to beat the brilliant perversion of "The Hangover" for pure fun. After a bachelor party at its drunken worst, we follow the groom's buddies through the rough ride of the morning after, when those splitting headaches prove to be the least of their problems.