Lightweight entertainment, good for a laugh

Rating: 7/10 (24 November 2005)

Wedding Crashers was touted to be one of the surprise hits of the year - and while it is good and definitely has its moments; there's just too much wrong with it to be a complete success. The first, and biggest problem is that it's just too long; while the plot is at it's best, you just want the film to continue; but after the pivotal middle section has expired, the film doesn't leave much to keep the audience interested. To be honest, I was bored with the last twenty minutes. The plot focuses on a really good idea - namely, turning up to weddings, pretending to be some distant relation, and then using this position to meet women who are basking in the glow of 'true love'. I'd engage in this activity myself if English weddings weren't so rubbish. Anyway, the plot follows two divorce mediators that make a habit of crashing weddings. Wedding season is nearing it's close, but there's still one big one left; namely, the wedding of the Treasury Secretary's daughter. After successfully infiltrating the event; one of the team finds himself at odds when he falls in love with the bride's sister...
A lot of the movie relies on the two leads. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn team up for this movie, and they do a very good job of keeping the audience's interest. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of either of these two (or the rest of the 'Frat-pack', Jack Black aside) but they know how to make a movie like this work, and providing they keep delivering lightweight comedies; I'm sure they'll continue to please those who do like them. Christopher Walken appears in a support role, which is always nice to see; even if he does just rely on his persona these days, and Rachel McAdams (Red Eye, Mean Girls) takes the lead female role. The jokes, as you might expect, come thick and fast; with about half of them being funny, and a select few being very funny. Most of the comedy straddles that awkward line where characters find themselves in a situation they don't like; so if you like that humour, you'll probably like this. I cant say if this is better than other recent 'Frat-Pack' films like Dodgeball and Starsky and Hutch, having not seen them - but I will say that if all you want is an easy couple of hours of entertainment, this should suffice...despite being a bit too long.