What Happens in Vegas
| What Happens in Vegas | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tom Vaughan |
| Written by | Dana Fox |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Matthew F. Leonetti |
| Edited by | Matt Friedman |
| Music by | Christophe Beck |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release dates |
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Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35 million |
| Box office | $219.3 million |
What Happens in Vegas is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Tom Vaughan and written by Dana Fox. It stars Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher as a couple who get married and win a casino jackpot prize during a drunken night in Las Vegas, but their simple plan to get a quick divorce and divide the money is complicated by the divorce court judge's ruling. The title is based on the Las Vegas marketing catchphrase "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas".[1] Despite negative reviews from critics, the film was a box office success.
Plot
In New York City, high-strung commodity futures trader Joy Ellis McNally (Cameron Diaz) is dumped by fiancé Mason at the surprise birthday party that she threw for him. At the same time, easy-going carpenter Jack Fuller Jr. (Ashton Kutcher) is fired by his father, Jack Sr. Both Joy and Jack are distraught and take debauched trips to Las Vegas with respective best friends Toni "Tipper" (Lake Bell), who is a bartender, and Jeff "Hater" (Rob Corddry), a lawyer.
Joy and Jack meet by chance when given the same hotel room due to a computer error. Once the misunderstanding is cleared up and receiving upgraded rooms and coupons to various clubs, they party and drink together and end up getting married. The next morning, agreeing it was a mistake, they plan to divorce.
Before they divorce, Jack uses a quarter Joy gives him in a slot machine, hitting a three million dollar jackpot.[2] Joy reminds him that they are married and consequently she is entitled to half of the money. They return to New York, where they attempt to divorce. The judge declares they cannot divorce until they attempt to co-exist for six months, while attending weekly sessions with marriage counselor Dr. Twitchell. If they work at the marriage but still want to divorce after six months, each can keep half the winnings. If either party does not cooperate, the money will be tied up in litigation by the judge.
The newlyweds devise more and more cunning schemes to undermine each other, such as Jack telling Joy that their counseling session is canceled to show she is not committed, and Joy inviting girls to their apartment to seduce him, throwing a party. Jack gives Joy's ex-fiancé, Mason, her engagement ring back without Joy knowing. However, at Joy's work retreat, they unexpectedly find themselves attracted to each other.
Returning from the retreat, it is time for the judge to decide what happens to the money. On her way to the hearing, Joy sees Mason, who tells her he wants her back. Giving back the engagement ring, he tells her she is good enough for him. Joy thinks Jack set her up with Mason to cheat on him to guarantee divorce. She walks away from Mason and goes to the hearing. There, the marriage counselor testifies that the couple worked on the marriage. The judge decides they will split the remaining 1.4 million dollars (after taxes, bills Joy ran up, and money Jack spent on his new woodworking business). Joy tells the judge she does not want any of the money and as she leaves she gives the engagement ring to Jack, telling him she wants nothing from him.
Joy is offered a promotion, but declines it, telling her boss she would rather be happy doing nothing than miserable doing something she hates. Jack's parents tell him it looks like he and Joy are in love. Realizing his mistake, he goes to find her. Tipper tells Jack that she quit her job and nobody knows where she is. He suspects that she has gone to Fire Island, New York, the only place that makes her feel truly happy. Finding her, Jack proposes (again) and she says yes.
During the closing credits, there are scenes from the day Jack and Joy get married, of Tipper and Hater subsequently enacting a plan of revenge on Mason, and of Hater cutting off Dave.[3]
Cast
- Cameron Diaz as Joy McNally
- Ashton Kutcher as Jack Fuller, Jr.
- Rob Corddry as Jeffrey "Hater" Lewis
- Lake Bell as Toni "Tipper" Saxson
- Treat Williams as Jack Fuller, Sr.
- Dennis Farina as Richard "Dick" Banger
- Jason Sudeikis as Mason
- Dennis Miller as Judge Whopper
- Zach Galifianakis as Dave 'The Bear'
- Michelle Krusiec as Chong
- Deirdre O'Connell as Mrs. Judy Fuller
- Krysten Ritter as Kelly
- Queen Latifah as Dr. Twitchell
- Andy Daly as Curtis
- Billy Eichner as Band Leader
Release
The film had its world premiere at the Odeon in
American
Reception
Box office
What Happens in Vegas grossed $80.3 million in the United States and Canada and $131.4 million in other territories for a total of $219.4 million worldwide, against a production budget of $35 million.[6]
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $20.2 million in 3,215 theaters in the United States and Canada, finishing second at the box office behind Iron Man.[7]
Critical response
What Happens in Vegas received generally negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a rating of 25%, based on 135 reviews, with an average rating of 4.40/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "What Happens in Vegas has a few laughs, but mostly settles for derivative romantic comedy conventions and receives little help from a pair of unlikable leads."[8] On Metacritic the film has a score of 36 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[9]
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times slammed it, stating that What Happens in Vegas is "one of those junky time-wasters that routinely pop up in movie theaters".[10] Metromix Chicago's Matt Pais called it "bland, boring and not fun at all".[11]
The film received two
See also
References
- ^ Vaughan, Tom. "What Happens in Vegas". Archived from the original on August 4, 2019.
- ^ what happens in vegas winning scene, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved October 18, 2021
- ^ "You Know Why". YouTube. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher at Twentieth Century Fox World Premiere of 'What Happens in Vegas' on May 1, 2008 at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, CA. – Photo Gallery – Variety – photos, pictures, images, photographs, pics". Variety. May 3, 2008.
- ^ "The Eviction Vote Comes With Consequences for One HouseGuest. The House Competes for a Star-Studded Luxury Prize". CBS. Archived from the original on March 30, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
- ^ "What Happens in Vegas (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office Results for May 9–11, 2008". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
- ^ "What Happens in Vegas". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ "What Happens in Vegas". Metacritic. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (May 9, 2008). "Morning Hangover, Spouse and Jackpot". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ Pais, Matt (May 8, 2008). "What Happens in Vegas". Metromix Chicago. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "Razzie Awards: Awards for 2009". IMDb. February 21, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
External links
