Judy Thorburn's Movie Reviews
Wedding Crashers
- Details
- Category: Judy Thorburn
- Published on 24 November 2008
- Written by Judy Thorburn
Judy Thorburn
Wedding Crashers
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YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LAUGH WITH "WEDDING CRASHERS"
Parents have enough on their plate putting together a wedding for their daughter. They needn’t have to worry about uninvited male guests showing up at this most memorable occasion to mingle with family and friends, drink, scoff down some food, and use these festivities as a chance to score with some single women. But, after seeing the Wedding Crashers, theatre audiences of impressionable bachelors might very well pick up on the idea and start a new trend. I wouldn’t be surprised if some sleazy guys on the prowl in search of their latest conquest don’t find this premise an interesting challenge. For the rest of us, the concept sets the stage for a side splitting, hilarious romp, which makes this the funniest film of the summer, the best comedy since Meet the Parents.
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are the titled duo, guys who know exactly the ins and outs of crashing weddings. They play seasoned pros that have been making the circuit for twelve years since learning the ropes from the “king” of wedding crashers, Chas Reinhold. It’s their favorite hobby when these business associates aren’t at work as divorce mediators. John Beckwith (Wilson) and buddy Jeremy (Vaughn) can’t wait for spring, the time known as “wedding season” to roll around. Jewish, Italian, Indian, Irish, Asian, it doesn’t matter - these guys are up for it all, and know exactly what to do to fit in among the invited guests. They’ve got the routine down pat. That means showing up dressed to the nines, along with the perfect gift (a wrapped empty box) and a set of rules on how to act, what to say, and make sure to stand out as the life of the party in order to attract the most gorgeous girl.
The chemistry between these two stars couldn’t be better. They make a superb twosome and it works like a charm. Owen Wilson as John is the mellower, straight man whose sensitivity and tears are irresistible to women, compared to Vince’s motor mouth, more flamboyant, aggressive, womanizing cad. Yet as good as Owen always is, this is Vince’s movie all the way. His rapid-fire dialogue (example - calling Gloria a stage 5 clinger and saying “Please don’t take a turn to negative town”) and his over the top shenanigans are just too funny for words. I never figured this actor, who starred in the remake of Psycho, would become one of the funniest guys on screen.
The perfect set up starts to unravel when the two decide to pull off the greatest crash of all time, the Secretary of the Treasury, William Cleary (Christopher Walken) eldest daughter’s wedding, which promises to be the social event of the year. Unexpectedly, John is smitten by Cleary’s middle daughter, Claire (a glowing Rachel MacAdams, Mean Girls) and can’t get her out of his mind. Jeremy, on the other hand doesn’t realize what he is in for when he seduces Claire’s younger sister Gloria (Isla Fisher), a sex-craved wacko who gives him a run for his money.
The boys, after making such a hit at the wedding get invited back to the family’s palatial summer estate (think the old JFK New England compound, for those old enough to recall) where the fun escalates and things get out of control. There, after a game of tag football, we are treated to a dinner gathering where under the table sexual antics play out, and sassy, speak her mind granny Cleary (Ellen Albertini Dow) spews such ditties as “Eleanor Roosevelt was a dyke” and states emphatically that grandson, Claire’s strange painter brother Todd (Keir O’Donnell), is a homo. But that’s just for starters. Jane Seymour, in an unusual, yet funny turn, plays the alcoholic mother of the bride and unfaithful wife, who makes a Mrs. Robinson-like pass at John by talking naughty and exposing her breasts when cornering him in the bedroom. And, with gay brother Todd and Gloria both setting their sights on Jeremy, one of the most hysterical, sidesplitting predicaments occur that entails Jeremy being tied to the bedposts. The scene had me laughing so hard I cried. Needless to say, although John has fallen for the beautiful and sweet Rachel, and the feelings gradually become mutual, also present is Rachel’s obnoxious, domineering, blue blood boyfriend Sack (Bradley Cooper) to contend with, who is eager to make trouble.
Director David Dobkin (Shanghai Knights) keeps the funny situations coming one after another at such a fast pace that you can hardly take a breath in between fits of laughter. The only flaw is when one of the “hottest” comic actors today shows up in a surprise cameo role and disturbs the tone. On the whole the film’s humor is raunchy and at times sexually laced. But, it is all in good fun and never crude or vulgar like American Pie or Something About Mary.
Take it from me; if you want to have some really good belly laughs, Wedding Crashers will do the trick. Just be a responsible theatergoer and buy a ticket. Remember, there is no crashing allowed.