Thornhill at the Movies

Admittedly, I am not the demographic this film was made for. If you are a fan of the various reality shows on television depicting "Bridezillas", women who are so all consumed with their impending weddings they make everyone else around them miserable, you will probably enjoy this 'comedy'. The story, such as it is, places two actresses in roles they should have otherwise turned down. Each takes the term "Bridezilla" to new heights and makes our lives miserable, for the running time of the film.

 

I don't have a lot to say about this film. It seems a shame that Anne Hathaway would follow such critically acclaimed and award nominated work in "Rachel Getting Married" with this piece of painful fluff. Honestly, it would have been less excruciating to listen to Clay Aiken songs for the same length of time.

 

I only hope Hathaway doesn't experience the Eddie Murphy curse. Murphy was considered the shoe-in for a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his great work in "Dreamgirls". Then he made "Norbit", which was released the same week the ballots were due back. Eddie Murphy couldn't hide his shock when the award went to Alan Arkin for "Little Miss Sunshine". While Hathaway is far from a lock (Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep are contenders), releasing "Bride Wars" doesn't help. "Bride" is the type of film Hathaway is known for; innocuous, forgettable romantic comedies and fluff. Reminding the voters that you can easily slip back into the same ol, same ol isn't a good idea when you have a good chance at an Oscar. The voters are reminded of this and may begin to wonder if your work in the good film is a fluke. When "Norbit" was released they were reminded of all of the other bad comedies Murphy has appeared in recently and erased the memory of his good work in "Dreamgirls".

 

Kate Hudson is one of the producers of this film and you have to place some blame on her shoulders. Okay, a lot of the blame. But then again, do you expect that much from her? Has she done anything even remotely funny or memorable since "Almost Famous"? That would be a big 'No'. So, you have to wonder why people keep going to her films. She isn't funny and in "Bride", she plays Liv, an attorney who has just won a big case. She and her best friend, Emma (Hathaway), have grown up dreaming of getting married at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Now that each is engaged, they are prepared to set the date and turn to uber-wedding planner Marion St. Claire (Candice Bergen). When St. Claire's assistant accidentally books their weddings for the same day, she is fired and the women, the two best friends, begin cajoling each other and making each other's lives miserable in an attempt to get them to give in, and allow the other person to have their June wedding at the beautiful Plaza Hotel.

 

It sounds just like a fairy tale doesn't it?

 

More like a horror story. There is simply nothing believable in anything either character does. Because we don't believe anything, nothing is funny. Because nothing is funny, the mean-spirited nature of the film smacks us in the face and leaves a bad taste in our mouth.

 

Dreadful. Not worthy of your time and money. Don't rent it on DVD. Don't watch it on cable. Don't watch it on television.

No Stars