Film

What Happens In Vegas

Cert: 12A

Description: In Las Vegas, dreams occasionally come true, but for two strangers the Nevada desert is just the beginning of their nightmare. Joy and Jack arrive in Sin City to have fun and after a night of drink and debauchery, they wake to discover that they have tied the knot. Then in a further twist, Jack wins a three million dollar jackpot on a slot machine using Joy's quarter. Needless to say, she wants the money but he's reluctant to give her anything. However, their status as newlyweds means that if Jack were to divorce Joy, she would be entitled to half of the winnings.

Derek Malcolm's rating

Reader rating

Your rating

Click on a star to rate

Dir: Tom Vaughan.

Cast: Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Rob Corddry, Lake Bell

Country: US.

Year: 2008.

Duration: 98mins

Waste of talent

Trying too hard: Joy (Cameron Diaz, right)

By Derek Malcolm
8 May 2008

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, as the saying goes, hinting at secret indulgence and debauchery on a massive scale. But there�s nothing in this rom-com to make you lick your lips. The leading characters are party guy Jack (Ashton Kutcher), who has just been sacked for incompetence by his father, and commodities trader Joy (Cameron Diaz), who has just been dumped by her fianc�. Somehow these two ill-assorted New Yorkers meet up in Vegas, get rollicking drunk and marry in a state of alcoholic hopefulness.

When they win $3 million from a slot machine there is the inevitable court case to decide who gets what share of the money. This causes Judge Whopper (Dennis Miller) to sentence Jack and Joy to �six months hard marriage�, with Queen Latifah�s counsellor detailed to sort them out.

Alas and alack, the film wastes the talents of all concerned by simply trying too hard. The Las Vegas authorities should sue Tom Vaughan, the director, for making their city look so dull.