What Happens in Vegas is a 2008 American romantic comedy film from 20th Century Fox starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. The title is based on the phrase, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." The film is rated PG-13 for some sexual and crude content, and language, including a drug reference.
Plot
In New York City, high-strung stockbroker Joy Ellis McNally (Cameron Diaz) is dumped by her fiancé at his surprise birthday she threw for him in front of all their friends while at the same time easy-going carpenter Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) is fired from his job by his father, Jack, Sr. (Treat Williams). Both become emotionally distraught and, with their best friends Tipper (Lake Bell), a bartender and Hater (Rob Corddry), a District Attorney, take a debauched trip to Las Vegas. They meet by chance when they are given the same hotel room because of a computer error. After clearing up the misunderstanding and receiving upgraded rooms and coupons to various clubs, they party and drink together and Joy and Jack end up getting married. The next morning, they realize it was a mistake and decide to divorce.
Before they do so, Jack uses a quarter Joy gives him in a slot machine. He hits a $3,000,000 dollar jackpot and Joy reminds Jack that they are married and hence, she is entitled to half of the money. The couple returns to New York, where they attempt to divorce. Their judge (Dennis Miller) declares that the couple cannot divorce until they attempt to co-exist for six months, while attending weekly sessions with a marriage counselor (Queen Latifah). If they work at the marriage but still want to divorce after six months, each will be permitted to 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 prove she's not committed, and Joy inviting hot girls to their apartment to try to get Jack to cheat on her. They do this to keep the other's share. Jack gives Joy's ex-fiancé Mason (Jason Sudeikis), her engagement ring back without Joy knowing. At Joy's job retreat, Jack and Joy ironically find themselves developing an unexpected sexual attraction to one another and they soon realize that being with each other has brought out the best in both of them.[1].
After they get back from the retreat, it's time for the judge to decide what happens to the money. On her way to the hearing, Joy sees her ex-fiancé Mason and he tells her that he wants her back. He gives her back the engagement ring and tells her that she is good enough for him. Joy realizes that Jack set her up to get back with him, therefore cheating on him and letting Jack keep the money. Joy walks away from Mason and goes to the hearing. At the hearing, their marriage counselor testifies that the couple truly tried to work on their marriage. The judge decides that they each get 1.5 million dollars, taking away taxes and the bills Joy had run up and Jack had spent on his new woodworking business. Joy tells the judge she doesn't want any money, and gives the engagement ring to Jack, telling him she officially doesn't want anything from him. Jack realizes she knows that he talked to Mason.
Joy ends up getting the promotion, but tells her boss that she would rather be happy doing nothing than doing something she hated and being miserable. The next scene is of Jack talking to his parents, and them telling him that it looked like he and Joy were actually in love. Realizing his mistake, he goes to her friend Tipper to find out where she is. Tipper tells Jack that she quit her job - a fact she seems quite disgruntled by - and that nobody knows where she is. He has a suspicion that she has gone to a beach (Fire Island, New York) that she told him about, the only place that makes her feel truly happy. Jack asks her to be his wife (again) and she says yes. The movie ends with Jack telling her he hit the jackpot.
Cast
Releases
Theaters
The film had its world premiere at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London on April 22, 2008.[2] Twentieth Century Fox held the U.S. premiere on May 1, 2008 at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, CA.[3] It opened in wide release in the United States on May 9, 2008.
American Big Brother 9 housemates Ryan and Sharon were given a special screening of the film after winning a "luxury competition" in April. They were also awarded tickets to the May 1 Hollywood premiere.[4]
Blu-ray / DVD release
What Happens in Vegas was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 26 August 2008. The DVD is sold in 1-disc and 2-disc special editions (The Extended “Jackpot” Editions). The 2-disc special edition includes director commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, trailers, and a digital copy of Windows Media and Apple Quicktime.
Box office performance
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $20,172,474 in 3,215 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #2 at the box office,[5] behind Iron Man, but ahead of the highly-anticipated Speed Racer and averaging $6,274 per venue.[6] As of 26 August 2008, it has grossed a total of $219,375,797 worldwide — $80,250,204 in the United States and Canada and $131,350,000 in other territories, which makes the film a financial success, given its production budget of $35 million.[7]
Critical reception
Reviews for the film were negative, earning the film a 28% "rotten" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
References
External links
