The 'Hangover' hangover: 'Other Guys' tries to equal cult status

It's safe to say no one expected "The Hangover" to be as popular as it was.

After all, a year ago, who knew that Zach Galifianakis, Vegas, tigers and Mike Tyson could really be that funny in a movie?

I think "The Hangover" surprised everyone because it had no real big names in it. It also raked in $277 million at the box office. "The Hangover" may not be close to the funniest or best movie, but it was fun and funny for a lot of people.

The plot isn't anything spectacular sounding: Four guys go to Vegas for a bachelor party, get drunk, lose the groom and, in the midst of recovering from hangovers, search for their buddy. But, the movie was hilarious, silly, and ridiculous.

During certain scenes, you can't help but think "how did they come up with that?" Not because the scene or line itself was brilliant, but because what is happening is so out of left field.

But ever since "The Hangover's" unexpected success, a lot of comedies making their way through the movie theaters are tagged "The Next Hangover."

And, as a huge movie lover, I'm also always hoping that some new comedy surprises me and matches "The Hangover's" hilarity.

Earlier this year, "Hot Tub Time Machine" was thrown around as a potential next "Hangover." After all, it did have the weird, yet slightly intriguing name suggesting a time warp via jacuzzi.

I waited for "Hot Tub Time Machine" to hit DVD, and don't regret it. It wasn't a huge hit at the box offices, making just less than $50 million. While half the movie was funny, the other half was kind of eh, for lack of a better word. Overall, fine but nothing special about it.

And then, out of nowhere early this month, advertisements for "The Other Guys" started popping up. Something about the movie drew me to it.

I probably couldn't pass it up knowing that Mark Wahlberg (MARKY MARK, yes!) and Will Ferrell played loser cops.

Maybe it's because I warmed up to the idea of Mark Walhberg cracking me up in a movie with his cameo in "Date Night" or maybe it's because I've been waiting for another Will Ferrell movie that made me laugh as much as "Anchorman," "Old School" or "Talladega Nights."

But either way, "The Other Guys" is pretty funny. It did have the theater laughing pretty consistently, but it was missing some of "The Hangover's" flashiness.

Where "The Hangover" had countless crazy situations ... and Zach Galifianakis, "The Other Guys" has a lot of out-there comments and rants, along with some crazy stunts.

"The Other Guys" may not be the next "Hangover," but that doesn't mean it's not a funny way to spend a couple of hours. And, there's a "Hangover" sequel scheduled for next summer if you need your wolf pack fix.