“Wedding Crashers” (New Line Cinema)
“Wedding Crashers” is a raucous, funny film that shows just how charming and entertaining Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan can be. It starts out strong and maintains a level of hilarity for most of the movie, but then it crashes in the final thirty minutes.
Wilson and Vaughan play John and Jeremy, two divorce mediators. That is their profession but what they really like to do is crash weddings. They go to all types and try to score with the ladies at each and every one. It doesn’t matter if the ceremony is Jewish, Christian, or whatever as long as there is food, booze and women.
One of the biggest they crash is the wedding of the daughter of the Secretary of the Treasury, William Cleary (Christopher Walken). At this wedding and later at the reception John spots another daughter of Mr. Cleary. Her name is Claire (Rachel McAdams) and John is immediately attracted to her.
Meanwhile Jeremy is having his own hands full with another Cleary daughter, Gloria (Isla Fisher). She is a man hungry beauty who is immediately attracted to Jeremy. This makes Jeremy want to leave but John wants to stay. He even accepts an invitation for the two of them to go for the weekend at Mr. Cleary’s summer home.
One problem is that Claire already has a boyfriend (Bradley Cooper) and he doesn’t want John anywhere near her. Another problem is that Gloria and her brother Todd are both pursuing Jeremy while Claire’s mother (Jane Seymour) is pursuing John. The situations that occur range from funny to very funny and most of them are very adult.
The biggest problem with the movie comes as the film is winding down. Director David Dobkin thinks by bringing in a “surprise” guest star he can give the final moments a punch. But it doesn’t work and the “star” is more an annoyance than an aid to the film.
The movie is rated R for profanity, nudity and adult situations.
Owen Wilson shows he has some real acting talent in this movie. He is totally convincing in his love and zeal for Claire. Vince Vaughan shows he has some real comedic talent. He matches Wilson quip for quip and joke for joke. Isla Fisher is a real find as Gloria. She is a hoot. And Rachel McAdams shows she needs a good role in order to be a good actress, as she is the least effective of the leads.
Two thirds of this movie is very good but the last part is a downer. Maybe you should leave when the final third of the movie starts, and then you will leave happy and satisfied.
I scored “Wedding Crashers” a tossed out 6 out of 10.
