The Groomsmen
It's inevitable thatThe Groomsmenwould invite comparisons toWedding Crashers, but it's actually closer in spirit toDiner. Or Fellini's semi-autobiographicalI Vitelloni, which writer/director Edward Burns has claimed as an influence. Sure, the film has its comedic moments, but it isn't a comedy. Sure, Burns and his on-screen pals can be louts, but that's where the similarities to the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn vehicle end. There's only one wedding in the picture and Paulie (Burns) doesn't need to crash it--he's the one getting married. His fiancée, Sue (Brittany Murphy, who worked with Burns onSidewalks of New York), is pregnant, so the time has come. Paulie, a Long Island reporter, isn't sure he's ready for the responsibility of marriage and fatherhood. His best buddies, Dez (Mathew Lillard), T.C. (John Leguizamo), cousin Mike (Jay Mohr), and brother Jimbo (Donal Logue), aren't exactly helping to prepare him for the big day. That's because they've got problems of their own and because they're more concerned about getting the band together one last time (a humorous, if overly familiar plot device). Since 1995 breakout hitThe Brothers McMullen, originality hasn't been Burns's strong suit andThe Groomsmenis no exception, although the believable camaraderie between characters serves to distract from the clichés.--Kathleen C. Fennessy