What Happens in Vegas: Movie Review

Usual Kutcher Humor Still Works

Through a mostly-believable series of events in Vegas, the pair of strangers find themselves married and co-owners of three million dollars. The wry and unimpressed judge refuses to grant them an annulment or a simple split of the three million. Instead they are sentenced to six months of “cold hard marriage,” and this is when the movie really hits its comedic stride. Most of the plot line involves the two of them at each other’s throats, ready to stoop to any level if it means making the other one trip before the finish line.

This movie relies heavily on slapstick humor, but definitely spares no trick of the trade. Written by Dana Fox (Wedding Date), it is already prepped for traditional rom-com greatness before Ashton Kutcher enters the mix. His particular brand of humor is distinct by now, and recognizable from movies like Just Married, A Lot Like Love, and Guess Who. His character is not much different here from those he’s done in the past: he covers everything from deadpan slacker to stereotypical obnoxious male. No one is surprised, in other words, when he urinates in the sink and informs his aghast wife that it’s her turn to do dishes.

Chemistry Between Diaz and Kutcher Surprisingly Good

No, the twist here comes from the chemistry between the two leads. Cameron Diaz has never played crazy like this and while it makes for a strange pair, it seems to work. Diaz is actually six years older than Kutcher, which is a fact definitely not translated into their respective characters. It shows, but arguably not enough to matter.

Usually slated as the beautiful unreachable (The Mask) or perhaps the typical blonde (In Her Shoes, My Best Friend’s Wedding), Diaz reaches a level of crazy here that is only hinted at in The Holiday. She launches an attack in her bathrobe, plots all sort of underhanded manipulations, and is even involved in a knock-down, all-holds-barred dash through parks, tour buses, and city streets in an effort to reach their court-appointed therapist.

Opposite Kutcher, it plays well and it’s entirely believable when the two fall for one another in the end, claiming that they bring out the best in one another. There's enough happy ending for the die hard romantic, and enough humor to win over those wary of the usual chick flick. Managing a delicate balance between humor and charm, this movie is a definite crowd pleaser.

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