CORPORATE LINE: In the outrageous comedy, Wedding Crashers, divorce mediators John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) are business partners and life-long friends who share one truly unique springtime hobby…crashing weddings! Whatever the ethnicity of the wedding party – Jewish, Italian, Irish, Chinese, Hindu – the charismatic and charming duo always have clever back stories for inquisitive guests and inevitably become the hit of every reception, where they strictly adhere to their proven “rules of wedding crashing” to meet and pick up women aroused by the very thought of marriage.
At the tail end of another successful season of toasting brides and grooms, Jeremy learns that the daughter of Treasury Secretary William Cleary (Christopher Walken) and his wife Kathleen (Jane Seymour) is getting married in what is sure to be the Washington, D. C. social event of the year. After infiltrating the lavish affair, John and Jeremy quickly set their sights on bridesmaids Claire (Rachel McAdams) and Gloria (Isla Fisher) Cleary.
With the lavish reception in full swing, Jeremy works his game plan to perfection in seducing Gloria, but John’s flirtatious banter with Claire is unexpectedly impeded by her pompous, Ivy League boyfriend Sack (Bradley Cooper). Having uncharacteristically fallen hard and fast for Claire, John convinces a resistant Jeremy to bend the crashing rules and accept an invitation to an extended weekend party at the Cleary family compound.
Once at the palatial waterfront estate, John and Jeremy endure a multitude of comical mishaps at the hands of the hysterically dysfunctional members of the Cleary family, but also learn a few unexpected lessons about love and relationships.
THE GOOD: Wedding Crashers is hilarious. Think Something About Marry or American Pie. The team of Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn is great. Together these guys are a party. Right from the opening scene you are watching wondering why you find it all so funny.
Rachel McAdams is a lot of fun. She is great as the only one of the family who is even close to normal. Isla Fisher as Glory is a scene stealer. Christoper Walken is a highlight as usual. Surprisingly Jane Seymour blows it up. When she tries to seduce Wilson—it’s absolutely brilliant because you wouldn’t imagine her doing that in a million years.
THE BAD: Wedding Crashers isn’t perfect by any means. It’s a perfect example of a movie that continues in motion even when it has nothing to do. Some scenes fall dead and most of the attempts at comedy are nothing more than vain attempts at going too far.
FRANKLY: Had Wedding Crashers been edited down a half hour this would have been one heck of a slick comedy! Even so you’ll be laughing like a kid—and that alone is worth the price of admission.
+ Charlie Craine
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