Movie Review: Wedding Crashers

Wedding Crashers

I don't see too many comedies. It's not that I don't like them — I like them quite a bit. And it's not that I don't see a lot of movies that are billed as comedies. No, it's just that a whole lot of movies that are supposed to be funny aren't. But hope springs eternal, it seems, and so I headed to the theatre to see Wedding Crashers on opening weekend. I'm almost at a loss for words to tell you just what a thrill it was to see a comedy that was — can you imagine? — really funny.

John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) work together in Washington, DC. They also play together, and the game they most look forward to all year is what they call "wedding season." The two are dedicated wedding crashers who attend every ceremony they can for the party, the free food and drinks, and most of all, the girls. John and Jeremy are the beneficiaries of the wisdom of the legendary "Chaz" who left them with a set of wedding crasher rules and the truism that weddings are a great place to pick up women. The two put that legacy to good use as they make themselves the life of virtually very party and repeatedly prove that single women at weddings are vulnerable to their studied charm.

Near the end of the this year's "wedding season," Jeremy discovers an announcement for what he calls "the Kentucky Derby of weddings." Secretary of the Treasury William Cleary (Christopher Walken) is sparing no expense for his eldest daughter's wedding. Despite the difficulties involved, John and Jeremy consider their attendance at the Cleary nuptials to be a challenge they can meet, and sure enough, they do. But in the midst of their coup, John does the unthinkable and falls for his targeted girl, the pretty younger sister of the bride, Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams). Meanwhile, Jeremy gets his hands on another of the Cleary sisters, the seemingly sweet and shy Gloria (Isla Fisher).

Jeremy discovers all too quickly that he's had more than enough of the clinging Gloria, but John is determined to get to know Claire better. The pair wangle an invitation to spend more time with the Cleary clan, and that's when all of the best laid plans begin to be torn asunder. John learns he has some competition for Claire's attention from her boyfriend, Zach (Bradley Cooper). Gloria is, well, not what Jeremy originally thought she was. The girls' brother, Todd Cleary (Keir O'Donnell), has problems that no one has even begun to acknowledge. And Secretary Cleary's wife, Kathleen (Jane Seymour), manages to throw a few curve balls of her own even as John and Jeremy become more and more enmeshed in their pretense.

Wedding Crashers is probably not going to win any awards for acting, though the performances are quite good. Owen Wilson seems much the same character from film to film, but he fits perfectly into this one. Rachel McAdams is fine, Isla Fisher is better, and it's always delightful to see Christopher Walken. The scene-stealer, though, is Vince Vaughn who is hysterical as the fun-loving and neurotic Jeremy. A surprise visit to meet a long lost friend, though, offers some terrific moments as well.

The story is largely predictable (though there are a few nice — and very funny — surprises), but the script is well written and moves along nicely. Some sharp edits only contribute to the effectiveness of the storytelling, and the direction in general seems more than merely competent. If I had any complaints about Wedding Crashers, it would involve a few scenes where characters begin to philosophize instead of just enjoying the moment. When they immerse themselves in the latter, Wedding Crashers is as good as it gets.

If you're looking for some kind of an educational movie, you might consider holding out for March of the Penguins. But if you just want to laugh, I recommend you see Wedding Crashers.

POLITICAL NOTES: Although the film takes place in Washington, DC — and their are uncredited cameos from James Carville and John McCain — the script actually did a surprisingly good job at avoiding political commentary. There are, however, a few remarks concerning New York lawyers that are just truthful enough to make you wince even as you laugh.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Wedding Crashers is rated R for "sexual content, nudity, and language." The sexual content, of course, is very much a part of some of the ongoing humor. The nudity, although brief, offers up some laughs of its own. The language, meanwhile, is fairly typical of the casual conversations held by many adults. In short, there's nothing too offensive or too over the top in the film for those of about age 16 and up, but there's plenty there that the average youngster doesn't need to see. Wedding Crashers would be a great date movie for older teens or dating adults, though, and I suspect fun for just about everybody else, too. I know I had a good time!