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'What Happens in Vegas'

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BY JOHN ANDERSON | Special to Newsday

May 9, 2008

Not so long ago, the abomination in the desert called Las Vegas promoted itself as a family vacation destination - this visitor can still recall, with a shudder, T-shirted packs of doughnut inhalers roaming the casinos like livestock. So, despite the title of "What Happens in Vegas," which suggests the city's more recent Sodom-and-Gomorrah-themed ad campaign, the movie version actually has family values: Don't get drunk. And if you do get drunk, and get married drunk, try to stick it out. Especially if you've accidentally married Cameron Diaz.

Pure confection, and a collection of movie comedy cliches that date back to Leo McCarey, "What Happens in Vegas" contains enough unbridled silliness to salvage its lowbrow high concept: Two extremely attractive people, Jack and Joy (Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz) - with problems they wouldn't possibly have - decide to drown their woes in gambling and debauchery, meet, get hammered, get married, and in the morning decide it was all a mistake. Until Jack puts Joy's quarter in a slot machine and wins $3 million. And "Till death do us part" takes on new meaning.

Conveniently, they both live in Manhattan, where all the ridiculousness can play out against a lush backdrop devoid of Bellagio water fountains: A judge (Dennis Farina) orders the two to stay together for six months, try to keep the "marriage" together or he'll make sure they lose the money. A marriage counselor (played, too predictably, by Queen Latifah) becomes the sounding board for their mutual hatred. But if you can't see where this is all going, you shouldn't be allowed to drive.

If "WHIV" was meant to establish Kutcher as an adult, it works: He and Diaz are a very appealing match even when the dialogue is at its most treacly, or inane. But the supporting players supply the richer comedy: Rob Corddry and the spectacular Lake Bell (who stole "Over My Dead Body" from Eva Longoria and was clearly prevented from doing the same here to Diaz) are vicious and nasty and funny. Kind of like Vegas, although Vegas isn't funny.

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS (PG-13). Couple collides in Sin City, get married, win money, are ordered by court to work it out. Preposterous but often very funny. With Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Lake Bell, Rob Corddry, Dennis Farina, Queen Latifah. Written by Dana Fox. Directed by Tom Vaughan. 1:38 (adult content, language). At area theaters.

What happens in Oheka ...

Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher stayed for a week at Oheka Castle (pictured, right) in Huntington - the newly restored Gold Coast estate of financier Otto Hermann Kahn turned catering and events hall - while filming "What Happens in Vegas."

Production took place the week of Sept. 24, 2007 - Kutcher and wife Demi Moore's second anniversary. Moore accompanied Kutcher for the shoot, staying with him at the estate, also a hotel where rooms can cost up to $975 a night. Diaz stayed for the week, too.

Five scenes were filmed at Oheka. There was an outdoor party scene for which the Oheka staff prepared pastries. Another scene was in the garden at night, during which the lighting crew stood atop 40-foot towers. In the so-called Gatsby Suite, says Tom Young, Oheka day manager, the crew shot "a love scene" for which it took three hours to sew Diaz into her dress. It also took many hours to film a scene inside the Terrace Room, which was transformed into a Vegas-style casino. And, on the front lawn, the crew shot "bicycle polo."

- VALERIE KELLOGG