Film Review: Wedding Crashers

Wedding galore
By: Rianne Hill Soriano

Starring: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken
Directed by: David Dobkin
Official Movie site

If you want some really good laughs, this is a timely film to enjoy. It may have some flaws (not just film/story flaws but also on the characters which are mostly given some quirkiness); but still, it is ‘such a riot.’ A comedy with touching romance, both comic and serious, it gives a moving definition of love for the record: “Love is the soul’s recognition of its counterpart on another.” Nice way to impress the apple of your eye… The Wedding Crashers is pretty much your average, formulaic and escapist comedy about the two guys John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Klein (Vince Vaughn), a pair of divorce mediators, and part-time wedding crashers for the kicks, for the food and for the girls. They show up as uninvited guests to weddings of all kind, whatever religion each wedding may be, and assume false identities and take advantage of vulnerable and inspired single women. They are equipped by their lies and deception to promote the ideal ‘prince charming’ character and get to hook up with the pretty girls on the loose – for a one night stand.

The two womanizers John and Jeremy eventually find themselves crashing the wedding of the daughter of an influential politician named William Cleary (Christopher Walken). John falls for the maid of honor, Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams), also a daughter of Sec. William Cleary; while Jeremy gets the nightmare of his life as he becomes trapped in the arms of another Cleary, the psychotic girl with a cute laugh Gloria (Isla Fisher).

Unlike their usual gate-crashing getaways, they become a little more hooked up with the high-ranking family as they get invited to a great weekend at the Cleary lakeside mansion (this place contributes very much to that escapist mood for the movie). And this time, it is not an easy way out for them as they get more and more involved and in love…

The revealing of a family full of quirkiness becomes effective, not corny the usual expectation. It becomes a well-presented element to the movie. Kathleen Cleary (Jane Seymour), William’s husband, has the hots for John. Claire’s brother, Todd Cleary (Keir O’Donnell), has that weirdo to the max look hiding into the cringes of an artist/painter. It turns out, he is a gay and he also likes Jeremy. And also like Gloria, he seems to be a psycho too. Sack Lodge (Bradley Cooper), Claire’s egotistic boyfriend, is the stereotypical college fraternity boy who loves to dominate every moment in every occasion. Christina Cleary (Jennifer Alden) reacts in such funny manners during her wedding (including the exchanging of marriage vows with his hubby). Even the characters of the grannies inside the Cleary mansion take funny accounts here and there. While William plays the typical powerful and intimidating father who anyone would dare second thoughts on taking risks on getting involved with his renowned family. But it turns out he is a compassionate and sensitive family man with a loving heart.

There is great comedic timing for the characters here. The over the top performance of Vince Vaughn rants, raves and never loses the punch lines every time. He hits every punch line of all his ‘monologues.’ A blabber-mouth with sense, he reminds me of fast talkers like Chris Rock, but on a different light. His height, his looks, and his mouth all hits the comedic notes effectively. Owen Wilson complements his tandem with Vaughn. His strength here includes the wedding pick-up lines and pick-up moves. The ‘crashers’ rules’ and ‘rule numbers’ tend to establish the know-hows on their wedding crashers escapades hand-in-hand. The chemistry between the two big guys is there.

The comic moments are not tiring to watch. The opening scene of the divorce meeting is as verbose as the rest of the movie. But Vaughn and Wilson as the divorce mediators, get to cover up the length with comedy. The delivery of lines, just like in the very long sequence of the Cleary family grand dinner that seems pegged from James Cameron’s Titanic (the cuts remind me of the issue dinner of Leo deCaprio and Kate Winslet where Rose’s fiancé becomes a thorn between the two’s emerging love), is totally not a bore. It keeps the comedy and the light story rolling like crazy as the various characters quirkiness are further expounded.

The weddings montage is a simple but tight way of presenting and establishing the comic story. I wonder how the director is able to execute countless funny moments from clichés and ‘overused slapsticks…’ From the football game to the hunting trip, to the sex scenes and the family talks, the Cleary’s mansion home has been a comic summer home.

Unlike most romantic comedies, this film has a typical story but has been executed effectively. It is predictable at times but it is always entertaining. The escapist mode for the audience is followed up by the considerably semi-Walt Disney score I get to hear some times. It just makes it such a light movie to watch after a long, tiring week. It may be a Hollywood mainstream product, but I should admit, it is quite relaxing to watch. If you need a dose of comic fun, you’ll get a ton of laughs in this movie.