Surprising Wedding

Rating: 10/10 (30 July 2005)

A bud of mine, Tom, is a master juggler in his spare time. I remember he showed me how to juggle, and the one thing he always did was keep his eye on the ball. This is what Director David Dobkin, does with "Wedding Crashers", he keeps his eye on the ball or balls. Dobkin balances what appears to be an outrageous, laugh riot comedy that has something to offend everyone (really praise), with a touching and sweet romance. Dobkin diverts our attention, and surprisingly, the love story ends in the foreground. That being said, "Wedding Crashers" will make you laugh harder than any other movie release so far this year. The humor shoots beyond tasteless at times, and is flat out clever funny. Credit the smart and crisp writing of Steve Faber and Bob Fisher. Faber and Fisher transform what could have been ordinary and predictable, i.e. the goof ball guy ends up with the wonderful girl, and avoids the trite ending. Faber and Fisher grant the audience the satisfying pay-out. "Wedding Crashers" is also blessed with the genius comedic pairing of Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.
Wilson and Vaughn play John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey, who are divorce mediators. Not attorneys. Mediators. Apparently, they are good at it. During the Wedding Season, they are master Wedding Crashers. They have found a brilliant way to eat great food, meet hot women, and get laid. John (Wilson) begins to question their vapid existence. Jeremy reminds him that one day when they're old they'll look back fondly at these days. John points out, "We're not that young." They decide to crash the Wedding of the Year. The daughter of Treasury Secretary Cleary (the perfectly cast Christopher Walken) is getting married. John and Jeremy do their research, and attend the wedding posing as investment bankers and distant nephews. Jeremy targets bridesmaid, Gloria Cleary (wild Isla Fisher). John is instantly entranced by her sister Claire Cleary (the amazing Rachel McAdams). During a funny exchange where John guesses wedding gifts, Claire asks John "What do you think true love is?" John replies "True love is the soul's recognition of it's counterpoint, in another." Claire admits that is "cheesy", and is touched. So was I, and completely taken off guard. "Wedding Crashers" is a great movie in that it does so many different things in context.
Needing more time with Claire, John convinces Jeremy to accept an invitation to the Cleary summer home. The Clearys are the poster dysfunctional family. Wife Kathleen Cleary (stunning Jane Seymour) making a pass at John, tells him that she and her husband were only faithful for the first 2 years of their marriage. Gloria (Fisher) is the entitled rich girl who had her "Sweet Sixteen" when she was thirteen. Now she is literally draining the life out of her new sex toy and love, Jeremy (Vaughn). Todd Cleary (Keir O'Donnell) is the misunderstood gay son, who is also attracted to Jeremy. Claire (McAdams) is perfect aside from having a vicious jerk-head boyfriend, Sack Lodge (well played by Bradley Cooper). The Lodge's are an esteemed family, and Sack is some sort of environmental warrior. Basically he is a world-class ass. John tells Claire, "You don't realize that you deserve to be with someone great..." The amazing thing in this context, John is not referring to himself.
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are an awesome and classic comedic team. This time around Wilson plays the straight man, John, who falls for Claire. Wilson has his funny lines, though mostly it's his laid back charm and cool that work. He also displays a believable vulnerability. Vaughn is outrageous and displays comic timing genius. His Jeremy even thinks quicker than he speaks. He is pure swagger and confidence. It is hysterical that he is initially terrified by Gloria. What really underpins this comedy and romance, amazingly is the depth and substance of their relationship. After a particularly bad night at the Cleary's Jeremy asks for some alone time from John. What could have been a flip exchange ends up being very understated and sweet. Rachel McAdams is beautiful and completely captivating. Her Claire is smart with a blind-spot (that being Sack), funny, with a great soul. She is John's counterpoint. It's great to see Jane Seymour. She is gorgeous. Her "Mrs. Robinson" scene with John (Wilson) is hot and hilarious. Christopher Walken is awesome as Secretary Cleary. He masterfully plays Cleary as self-absorbed on the surface, though he knows, and has unconditional love for his daughters.
See "Wedding Crashers". Really. It will make you laugh out loud and possibly offend. It will also charm you.