Movie Review: Wedding Crashers

What a novel concept... a comedy that's actually funny...

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson play the eponymous duo, a pair of shameless lotharios who prey on female wedding guests horned up by nuptial jubilation. Their formula has been honed to a science, replete with meticulously crafted lies and a list of rules by which to engage their targets. After a lengthy montage chronicles their annual "wedding season" (and manages to showcase 95% of the trailer moments and the obligatory but always appreciated tittie shots), the movie's focus swings wildly from premise to plot: a wrench is thrown into the pair's formula when Wilson breaks a major rule by falling in love with a target, the daughter of an influential politico.

In almost any other case, 85 remaining minutes of story in a film like this would be torturous. Thankfully, Vaughn and Wilson's chemistry manages to carry the laughs throughout, even at times when the story becomes too melodramatic and disconnected from the carefree sense of raunchy fun established from the beginning. Some third act sluggishness and pacing problems unfortunately crop up, but the payoff provides at least partial redemption. A strong supporting cast keeps the leads from having to shoulder the entire load, particularly (a surprisingly leashed) Christopher Walken as the father of the object of Wilson's desire, and Keir O'Donnell as Walken's maladjusted artist son. The ladies represent too: Isla Fisher stands out as a manic bridesmaid who leeches onto Vaughn, and Jane Seymour proves her milf-mettle as Walken's oversexed wife. Also, an ostentatious cameo by a familiar face (as "Chaz," Vaughn's shady mentor in the world of wedding crashing) keeps things moving at the end.

Overall, NTG gives three stars out of four to "Wedding Crashers," a sharply-written film that eschews pretense and lives up to everything it purports itself to be. In the tradition of "Animal House," it's a fun, filthy comedy that's surprisingly touching and true-to-life.


*****N*T*G*****

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