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The romantic comedy genre is probably the little corner of cinema everyone can rely on for formulaic fodder. What Happens in Vegas certainly obeys the renowned bubblegum template and feels like an unforgettable drunken escapade in Sin City, similar to the exploits experienced by our beautiful stars, Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, in Tom Vaughan's typical date movie with a happy ending we all know is coming. This is maybe what the director of 2006's Starter for Ten was seeking, an effort which was never going to revise an entire genre but to simply showcase its stars. After all, the film's locales are not entirely as advertised but have probably sold umpteen tickets on false hope. America's playground has very limited screen time at the start of the film and even a redneck who has never ventured outside of their state boundaries has seen virtually every street of New York. Consequently, if you're looking for a flick featuring frolics and fornication down the Sunset Strip, this 99 minute shot isn't it.
However, the plot's core is pleasurable nonetheless thanks mainly to our two leads. Hollywood's most naturally funny actress and Demi Moore's toyboy share a likeable chemistry but it's their stunning looks which executives have built promotion around and it's very understandable to see why. For example, notice how ugly their characters' respective ex partners are - Avy Kaufman, the casting director, must have been having a silent chuckle when asked to find unsightly actors to make the film's stars look even better. Diaz's Joy, an ultra determined stockbroker, has been recently dumped. Kutcher's Jack is a bone idle lad's lad who has been given the sack by his own father (a moral-centred Treat Williams). After deciding to visit Vegas to drown their sorrows, the duo meets in a hotel mix-up and then marries whilst intoxicated. They also win $3,000,000 on a slot machine but then dispute who should rightfully keep the cash. Back in native New York, a judge by the name of Hon. R. D. Whopper sentences the pair to six months hard marriage after refusing to furnish them with a divorce.
In a nutshell, this is the whole film with a punchline thrown in every three minutes or so. Vaughan showed promise with Starter for Ten but has gone nowhere since and opportunities are not exactly forthcoming - it's as if he was interpreting an instruction manual from Uwe Boll regarding where to place a camera here. Diaz meanwhile should have certainly moved on to more serious parts nowadays and leave this sort of popcorn material to less talented actresses such as the Li-Los and Duffs of this world. The Californian is an extremely gifted comedic performer but has to challenge herself more in future to gain more credibility as not just an amazingly gorgeous face. Kutcher on the other hand is simply a slightly more intelligent version of his "That 70's Show" character and should never even be given the chance to read a dramatic screenplay. Maybe this is too severe but let's just say he seems comfortable in this genre and nothing else - he only suits twentysomething rom-coms just like John Wayne feels at home with Westerns.
The summary
A more predictable result than a Japanese businessman entering a Vegas casino with thousands and leaving with nothing. Like so many before in this canon What Happens in Vegas fails to set the world alight but it is by no means unwatchable, just too light-hearted for any true emotional investment aside from a not-really-paying-attention late-night view.
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