A multifaceted film sprinkled with an all-star cast should
expect to thrill any audience with Academy Award winners across the board.
However and sadly, Writer and Director Justin Zackham’s seemingly obvious and
at most optimistic attempt of pulling off such virtuosity fails miserably and
allows itself to be tossed in the Pacific waters as shark food. The clichéd plotline
could be mistaken to be stolen straight out of a Judd Apatow romantic comedy (see: disappointment; #majorfail) as
it centers a too often and overly portrayed heterosexual couple’s relationship
just days before their over-the-top and perfect wedding day. Alejandro (Ben
Barnes, The Chronicles of Narnia) and
Missy (Amanda Seyfried, Mamma Mia!) are
about to be wed meanwhile surrounded by their chaotic to a fault relatives and
all their mishaps and dark skies that follow them—for which steers the film in
many directions far away from the wedding itself. Alejandro, adopted at a young
age to the then married lovers Ellie (Diane Keaton, Something’s Gotta Give) and Don (Robert De Niro, Meet the Parents) has to convince his [Alejandro's] biological mother and sister visiting from his home country that everything in his adopted
family is hunky dory, all the while Ellie and Don having to pretend they’re
still married under one roof while Don’s mistress Bebe (Susan Sarandon, Thelma & Louise) touts her role as
solely the wedding caterer. |
| (c) 2013 | Two Ton Films and Millennium Films |
Siblings are reunited from different career avenues featuring the sister Lyla, (Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy) a newly pregnant attorney facing the possibility of a failed marriage and brother Jared, (Topher Grace,That 70’s Show) a twenty-nine year old doctor who happens to still be a virgin. The cast also egregiously features Father Moinighan (Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire), the Catholic priest who consecrates the young couple’s marriage.
 |
| (c) 2013 | Two Ton Films and Millennium Films |
While fairly humorous, the film only mildly stands on its
own two feet with a cast more than able to carry out the story in an
entertaining fashion. I couldn’t help but to raise my eyebrow a handful of
times while the screenwriting takes a very liberal stab at organized religion, often
scoffing at Catholic moralities and indelicate gestures towards common world
issues. I suggest waiting for this movie to come out to rent or be purchased
just for shits and giggles— since it will probably just gather dust among the
rest of your collection either digitally or on DVD, as it is a great one-timer movie
that could be enjoyed once, maybe twice and that’s about it.
Efficacious acting and a few knee slappers allow this film a
rating of 2 out of 5 stars—and because I love Chinese Pugs. Keep this film out
of reach from children and the easily offended.
No comments:
Post a Comment