Wilson and Vaughn attack the script with the subtlety of a steamroller, but ultimately it is very funny

Rating: 8/10 (20 July 2005)

Wilson and Vaughn play two wedding crashers- going to weddings uninvited in order to pick up women. Just as Wilson's character is tiring of the life which he is increasingly viewing as sleazy (cue montage of topless women falling onto beds), they pull off the ultimate crash- the Cleary wedding, Wilson becomes infatuated with Claire Geary (Rachael McAdams)...with hilarious results!
It's far from a perfect film. There are many scenes which are simply unnecessary, and contain no jokes or plot development. It had a tendency to vacillate between the silly humour we've come to expect, to sweet love scenes and lingering meaningful looks between the leads. Too many meaningful looks. Please, we're not stupid, we've realised they fancy each other but she can't overcome her inertia. WE GET THE IDEA!! please stop the doe eyes and mooning glances!
Wilson and Vaughn attack the script with sledgehammers, there's no subtlety to their performance. Vaughn's character is inconsistent, and Wilson is wasted as he forgoes his usual shine for the tortured lovestruck eye acting which wastes everyone's time. I'm not joking, if anyone spent that much time staring at me, i'd think they were some kind of psycho.
However, there are some genuinely funny ideas in the script, there are parts which really shine (Vaughn in the bed), and some very funny lines which redeem the film. And Will Ferrell. He steals the whole movie, and he's only in 2 or 3 scenes. How anyone can make the word 'meatloaf' so amusing is incredible.
Also does have it's romantic tones, while I complain these make the film erratic and patchy, these may be the parts which other people enjoy the most. Girlfriends who may not enjoy the Wilson/Ferrel/Vaughn style of humour may enjoy the romantic aspects which do have some quite poignant moments and lines.
In short, I liked the film, I enjoyed it. It's certainly not the best film of the year, but it is entertaining (for a little too long at 2 hours perhaps). I'd recommend other people to see it but I'd also recommend they don't expect anything mindblowing.
I'd also like to launch a personal attack on the two leads. The end of Wilson's nose is all wonky. During the climatic scene I could only stare at his wonky nose, it's so distracting. And Vaughn looked absolutely knackered all the way through. Get some sleep man, I'm sure the producers will understand, you look half dead! I kept thinking, 'you'll never get any of those women looking like that, you've clearly not thought this plan through' But that's largely irrelevant to the actual quality of the film.