Opening Sequence Analysis, The Hangover.

I have chosen the opening sequence from "The Hangover".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKtHA8EFgIo&feature=related

This opening sequence is from our chosen genre, Comedy.

The sequence starts with non diegetic music being played in the background, and there is a removal van outside a house. This symbolises that one of the charaters that we are going to see in the film may be moving house at the beginning of the film, and this could set the plot for the rest of the film. After this we see that the house is actually being turned into a wedding venue as we get a close up and establishing shot of a wedding cake and the house being turned into a wedding venue, ready for a wedding ceremony to take place.

Already, we have established a place and time. We know the time and place as there are establishing shots within the first few seconds of the sequence. We can see that it in a typical housing estate in America with hot, sunny weather, so we can have a good guess at it being summer. We see a shot of what looks to be like a removal van, which poses questions to the audience, and we see the house in the background which looks very pretty and decorated. The audience would be thinking that maybe a main character is moving house. Next we see an establishing shot of a wedding cake, this immediatley makes the audience realise a wedding is going to take place. Next, we get introduced to a main character, Tracy. The audience can immediatley recognise her as the bride. We know this as she is sat in her gown ready to have her make up done with the rest of her family, this would generally happen at any wedding that takes place.

The opening sequence also sets up the audiences expectations. We can see that there is a wedding set to take place and where abouts it will take place. We can tell this because we see shots of lots of people preparing for a wedding, for example, there are chairs being set out, and flowers being arranged, all of which happen at a typical wedding. In the first 20 seconds of the opening sequence, we see an establishing character, Tracy who is set to get married to another main character, Doug.

Already, we have been set enigmas that we want answered. For example, already the audience will be asking themselves if Doug's friends will find him, and they will also ask themselves if the wedding will take place.This involves the audience in the film, and makes them want to watch more to find the answers to their questions. this also makes the film more enjoyable for the audience. In the opening sequence, when Tracy is on the phone to Phil we get set a theme. We understand that the 4 men have been out on a night out before the wedding, and as we also know that the film is titled "The Hangover" we ask ourselves if the fact they cant find their friend has anything to do with the party the night before, this also makes the audience want to watch more and find out more.