“Those two are meant for each other,” Queen Latifah says about characters played by Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz in What Happens in Vegas. Latifah portrays a therapist trying to help the couple “work through” their marriage problems. It’s not an easy task, for the wedding took place during a wild night in Las Vegas, one they can’t even remember, and there’s a very large jackpot sum in contention between the bride and groom.  Lucky for viewers, though, it’s quite easy to laugh while watching this amusing romantic comedy, mostly because of the comic skills Kutcher and Diaz bring to their performances.

Kutcher (Just Married), who reminds me of an oversized Muppet here, takes over the screen with his huge physical appearance and funny actions. He’s extremely convincing as Jack Fuller, a man-child more interested in slacking off than in working hard for his dad (Treat Williams). No wonder he gets fired by his own father! While commiserating with best buddy Hater (Rob Corddry), Jack decides a visit to Sin City will jolt him out of his doldrums. So off they go.

Meanwhile, Joy McNally (Diaz) experiences a romantic shock of seismic proportions. Even though she’s tried desperately “to be worthy” of her self-important fiancé (Jason Sudeikis), she gets dumped in a most humiliating way -- and the cure for that is, you guessed it, a trip to Las Vegas. Going along with Joy for the fun is Tipper (Lake Bell), her best pal. When they meet Jack and Hater, the fireworks begin.

Unfortunately, much to Joy’s surprise and chagrin, she wakes up the next morning with a wedding ring on her finger. While playing the slot machines, Jack and Joy agree their marriage can’t work. But that’s before Jack wins a three-million-dollar jackpot with Joy’s quarter. Jack thinks the money belongs to him; Joy disagrees. Will they be able to split it in a divorce settlement? 

It takes a weary judge (Dennis Miller) to come up with a solution. He sentences the couple to six months of living as man and wife before he will even consider granting them a divorce. And that’s not all. He freezes the money. If either one of the “happy couple” backs out, the other gets the entire three million dollars. When Joy reluctantly moves into Jack’s messy apartment, a battle of the sexes breaks out in full force as “husband” and “wife” engage in destructive behavior designed to undermine each other.

How these two enemies gradually come together and finally realize they are in love forms the simple plot of What Happens in Vegas. Yes, much silliness takes place, especially in an over-the-top sequence showing the two main characters trying to stop each other from making it to a therapy appointment on time. Still, we care about what happens to Joy and Jack. We see the exciting chemistry between them, thanks to Kutcher and Diaz’s ability to project that special screen magic. And we can’t help applauding the positive changes both individuals are going through as a result of living together.

Diaz (The Holiday), a talented and energetic actress, always makes me smile. I think she’s an excellent match for Kutcher, who’s becoming one of today’s most watchable actors. Although Dana Fox’s screenplay is predictable, it’s witty and much better than The Wedding Date, her previous romcom. Director Thomas Vaughan (Starter for 10) deserves credit for moving the film along with a mostly vigorous pace which allows the few slow, tender moments to stand out. There’s also a gem of a supporting performance from Michelle Krusiec (Duplex) as a co-worker willing to do anything to get the promotion she and Diaz’s character are vying for. Par for the course these days, the movie includes a couple of unnecessary crude scenes, but they’re fairly mild compared to many other recent romantic comedies.

After watching Over Her Dead Body and Made of Honor, I felt down in the dumps about the future of this film genre. Happily, What Happens in Vegas cheered me up considerably.

(Released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and rated “PG-13” for some sexual and crude content and language, including a drug reference.)