The DVD cover reads: “From the director of Old School and The Hangover,” preparing anyone who has seen one or the other for a wild and joyous ride. While I have yet to see the former, the latter is one of the funniest comedies I have ever seen. I was ready to see a film that takes the audience on the road and brings them face to face with danger and excitement that most have never seen before; I got exactly what I expected. The story is driven by a series of unfortunate events for the main protagonist, Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.), as he attempts to find his way home before the birth of his first child. Zach Galifianakis, like in nearly all of his other films, plays the eccentric nuisance that hinders the other characters from accomplishing their goals. Peter and Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) become acquaintances after the first of the unfortunate events and travel, cross country, on their way to the west coast. Their journey consists of seemingly impossible events and hilarious comedy. The comedy is somewhat raunchy, but perfectly executed by Downey Jr. and Galifianakis. What draws the audience is the comedy and the adventure, however, the budding friendship and the heart to heart conversations between the two characters allows the audience to find another aspect of the film to attach themselves to. The most troubling aspect of the film is Robert Downey Jr. himself. While he is a wonderfully talented actor with a knack for bringing humor and intellect to the big screen, he will forever be known to many as Tony Stark/Iron Man. For over ten years now he has been the cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has brought to life one of the most enjoyable characters in cinematic history. With his always captivating performances as Stark, it is often difficult to separate this persona from the rest of the characters he portrays on the silver screen. As the film progressed it became easier and easier to picture Downey Jr. as Peter Highman and separate him from Stark, but the first twenty minutes, or so, was a struggle. Aside from this minor set back, the film was incredibly enjoyable and full of twists and turns that kept the audience engaged. With this film, director Todd Phillips adds to his resume a film that rivals his other creations. The film is funny, adventurous and touching and, as they all worked hand in hand with one another, Philips successfully reaches his audience and tells a story not quite like any I had seen before; he comedically tells a story of friendship and perseverance and is a must see. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/?ref_=nv_sr_1
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