The Wedding Date Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)February 14th, 2005
THE WEDDING DATE
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Kat Ellis (Debra Messing, TV's "Will and Grace") has a nasty problem - her younger sister is getting married in London, her ex-fiance is the best man and she has no current beau to shield herself with. A New York magazine editor friend helps Kat out by outing the subject of a recent article on the city's most discreet male escort and a desperate Kat hires "The Wedding Date."
Debra Messing shows comic flair and middle age has transformed Dermot Mulroney ("Lovely & Amazing") into quite the object of desire, but although these two have a nice, understated chemistry together, "The Wedding Date"
is just another generic entry on the winter romantic comedy slate. Compared to last year's awkward and forced "Along Came Polly" and "Laws of Attraction," though, this little film is pleasant enough to offer some mild entertainment.
Nick Mercer is a suave looker who knows how to make his clients look good, both for themselves and those they're trying to impress. Kat has all the women, particularly her humorously bold cousin TJ (Sarah Parish), lusting after her new man even though mom (Taylor Holland, TV's "Two and a Half
Men") takes every opportunity to note Kat's aborted wedding to Jeffrey (Jeremy Sheffield). Nick quickly sizes up the family dynamics, particularly bride-to-be Amy's childlike tendency to demand her half-sister's 'toys' and former fiance Jeffrey's distress at losing the woman he loved, and begins to buff Kat's self confidence. One drunken bachelorette party later and Kat's bedding Nick, but in true romantic comedy fashion, obstacles for the obviously attracted couple begin to appear the very next morning.
Screenwriter Dana Fox takes a page from "Pretty Woman," but in sexist fashion tips the scales of power to favor the male prostitute. At least this is no Cinderella tale for hookers and the dysfunctional family makeup is fresh enough not to seem like cliche. Mom Bunny's alcohol-fueled bluntness is softened with good intentions and British Stepfather Victor (Peter Egan) is a beacon of gentle caring amidst the various stressful wedding gatherings. Dialogue is natural, no mean feat when dealing with a hired escort dispensing advice to a cuckolded bridegroom that will save the day.
Director Clare Kilner enables Messing's talent for physical comedy without resorting to pratfalls, like the subtle toss away of Kat's inebriated attempt to get out of a limo without removing her seat belt. Messing gives an altogether appealing performance as a woman who has had her self confidence given a good swift kick without slipping into neediness.
Mulroney oozes charm and sex appeal, but the film's major weakness is that he never lets us experience his character falling in love - Nick stays the same, but some switch has been thrown. Amy Adams ("Catch Me If You Can") believably conveys a young woman who experiences extreme regret at having gotten her way once too often at the expense of others and Jack Davenport projects the simple good-naturedness of her trusting fiance Ed. Parish, in the stock 'crazy sidekick' role, is great fun as the lusty TJ, but Sheffield gives nothing to Jeffrey that would make him seem desirable.
"The Wedding Date" has a few good laughs and appealing leads, but it never achieves the lift off of a real sparkling romantic comedy. Kilner's let the champagne go flat.
C+
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