My Best Friend's Wedding Review
by L MCGILLICUDDY (ZMDZ57C AT prodigy DOT com)July 1st, 1997
My Best Friend's Wedding
Review by Larry McGillicuddy
Copyright Larry McGillicuddy 1997
**** (out of 4)
Directed by PJ Hogan Starring Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett, M Emmet Walsh, Rachel Griffiths, Phillip Bosco While most people were lining up to check out the 4th installment of the immensely popular Batman series, I decided to wander over to this movie. 2 hours later, I would leave the theater with a huge smile, having just witnessed the most charming, spirited romantic comedy of the decade. What a great lift after the miserable experience known as Speed 2: Cruise Control. Former lovers Julianne and Michael once made a pact that when they turned 28, if neither had found someone else, then they would marry each other. Three weeks before the deadline he calls Julianne and tells her he's getting married, to someone else. She is obviously upset by this, but agrees to attend the 4 day wedding party in Chicago so she can have a chance at fouling up the wedding. Cameron Diaz plays Kimmy, Michael's fiance who immediately asks Julianne to be her maid of honor. As it turns out, Kimmy is more resourceful than Julianne imagined. An attempt early in the movie to embarass her in a karaoke bar completely backfires, as Kimmy ends up singing to a cheering audience. This is more than just an extraneous third haracter that you get in most love triangle romantic comedies. Diaz invests her character with so much energy, cheerfulness, and innocence that you just want to leap through the screen and give her a hug. Then, Rupert Everett, as Julianne's editor and confidante, enters the picture, and I can just say that next year's Oscar nomination list for Best Supporting Actor only has 4 slots left. He comes to Chicago to help her out, and pretends to be her fiance. Everett takes what could've been a stereotypical and offensive charaterization and makes it seem fresh and hilarious. The films highlight comes when Everett leads the whole wedding party in singing "I Say a Little Prayer for You". PJ Hogan directs this scene like a Broadway musical, and the result is so entertaining, touching, and lively that it becomes a moment of pure ecstasy. The final third of the film throws away all we know and expect about romantic comedies. Most viewers will think they see the conclusion coming a mile away. But there are several twists and turns in the final act, and you never are sure who will end up with who. All 4 leads are outstanding. Mulroney is basically only asked to look confused and be attractive, both of which he does exceedingly well. Diaz is a knockout, and is not content to give up any scene to her co-stars. Everett shifts his character from lovable goofball to reliable friend and back again. He is equally effective at both. And Roberts gives audiences what they've been asking for. Here she is in all her splendor. She takes her Pretty Woman charm and adds a little depth to it. I had been so utterly charmed by My Best Friend's Wedding, but when the end came near, I was worried. How could they possibly wrap this up to please me? The movie had done such a great job of creating so many likeable characters, I figured any ending would have to be a sad, downbeat conclusion, but what Screenwriter Ron Bass comes up with is touching and honest. What is this other movie that opened Friday everyone keeps talking about? For some reason, I cant remember the title.
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