An Almost Perfect Romantic Comedy

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2006)

In an age in which Hollywood has been lambasted for its lack of fresh new movies, the romantic comedy sub-genre has taken leaps and bounds (largely under the critical radar, but nevertheless vastly significant). In my opinion Wedding Crashers can be safely added to the cannon of recent smash successes. The film, which follows the dynamic journey of two wild wedding crashing bachelors (played with heavy dollops of charisma and chemistry by the incomparable comic team of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) as they wrestle with life's dilemmas and love. As aforementioned Vaughn and Wilson are spectacular, delivering nearly flawless, hilarious, yet emotional deep and touching performances. The supporting team is just as praiseworthy. Rachel McAdams who has proved her acting chops in pieces as varied as The Notebook, Mean Girls, and Red Eye once again shows off her inimitable charm as the extremely likable yet troubled Claire Cleary. Christopher Walken is brilliant as always in the role of Secretary of Treasury William Cleary and Jane Seymour, renown for the title role on the long running CBS drama Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, gives an inspired (however clichÃ©d) turn as Mrs. Cleary. Isla Fisher (Gloria) and Henry Gibson (Father O'Neill) round out a talented and quirky cast with Ellen Albertini Dow in a bit role as the Cleary's opinionated bigot of a grandmother.
The script, craftily penned by Steve Faber and Bob Fisher, works brilliantly as a comedy, but where the story really succeeds is in its poignant portrayal of human love and what that REALLY means. This is far more than just a "sex comedy," as it may appear on the exterior, rather a laugh a minute, but touching journey with some of the most likable, yet flawed, characters you're likely to meet.