The traditional way scenes from films are shot is from long to medium to short. This holds true in most genres and films, including The Hangover. The example I will use is the scene where Phil, Stu and Alan go to the hospital to search for answers on where Doug could be. The first shot is just the hospital, seen from the parking lot. Doing the shot from so far without showing any detail is a simple way to show the viewer what the next scene will be about or where it will be located. The very general image just reinforces to the viewer where the three characters are going. The next shot is of a doctor hitting a man's knee with a knee hammer to check his reflexes. The shot is very close to the two involved in it to give a little more detail than the previous but all it show's is the action happening. It does not show the men's faces or their facial expressions or reactions. This shot serves the purpose of letting us know that the three of them are either in the room or are going to be dealing with the doctor. It does not let us know what they are going to ask him or how they will (or in this case already have) approached him. It is a set up for the close up shot.
In the close up shot Phil, Stu and Alan's facial expressions are examined upon Phil questioning the doctor if he knew why they were in there in night before. Their facial expressions, especially Alan's, show a look of confusion. The shot serves the purpose of portraying to the audience what it is the characters are feeling or thinking. With the short or close up shot, details are the major key. This is indicated in this shot, from the look on Alan's face, to him holding the baby, to Phil using his hands while he talks. The long and medium shots are simply build ups to the short one, but in that final shot close up, all the pieces that have been lingering from the last two shots are put together.
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