Review of Bachelor Party Vegas (2006) by Sterlin R — 21 Jul 2012

Only because I am insanely fascinated by all things Vegas did I endure this entire film. There's some chuckles, but the average viewer is going to get pretty bored pretty quick.

The funniest bits are up front. Five minutes after the crew actually checks into the Golden Nugget's (then recently refurbished) Spa Tower Suites (ie, the high-roller penthouses with the spiral staircases), well by that time the viewer has seen about 85% of what's funny in this film. Hard to believe, but even Kathy Griffin's shtick ... about being a Elvis impersonator who puts on wrestling-in-a-pit-of-spaghetti shows ... ain't funny. And Griffin is ALWAYS funny.

The credits tell the film's true/back story. The producers listed include Tom Breitling & Tim Poster - who at the time of filming together OWNED the Golden Nugget. Also listed as producers, the Fertitta Bros., who owned (and still own) Station Casinos, including Green Valley Ranch. Within the same time frame, both GN & GVR were the subject of their own reality TV shows. This film, like those reality shows, were in no small part glorified advertising campaigns for the properties.

Hence, these "producers" apparently tapped into whatever famous and semi-famous talent owed them favors (or perhaps casino markers) in a low-cost effort to juice things up. That juice included locals such as Kathy Griffin, (then) Mayor Oscar Goodman and even one of Vegas' resident porn stars Sophia Rossi. The result is this mish-mosh 16-day shoot coasting in on a low budget and a thread-bare script. So adjust your expectations accordingly.

This film is probably best used as a luke-warm-up to a viewing of "The Hangover." Assuming you want to be sure you are drunk before viewing "The Hangover.".

Happy Motoring!