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With all the mismatched cinematic comic duos over the past several years, I approach films advertised as such with a hefty dose of skepticism if not outright pessimism. But today is a new day, and beams of hope are cutting through cloudy comic skies, because with Wedding Crashers, the buddy comedy is back with a vengeance! Not since 1998's There's Something About Mary has a comedy tickled the adult funny bone with such a raucous and unapologetic look at the hilarious complexities of adult relationships. Rightfully, Wedding Crashers earns its R rating, but not at the expense of being trashy or exploitative. The screenplay, written smartly by Steve Faber and Bob Fisher, isn't watered down in order to win the ever-coveted PG-13 rating and bolster its box office gross. Also important is director David Dobkin's precise timing for letting his perfectly chosen leads run wild at times and then harnessing them for narrative structure and coherence.
John Beckwith and Jeremy Klein, portrayed by Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn respectively, are lifelong pals who work together as divorce attorneys but really live to play. Their specialty is crashing weddings and attempting to take advantage of attractive and emotionally vulnerable bridesmaids. They view each Spring as the beginning of "The Season", much like hunters anticipate Fall. The exploits of these two philanderers are well documented in a fantastic montage at the film's beginning, establishing the tone and lightning pace of their chosen orgiastic lifestyle.
William Cleary (Christopher Walken), the Secretary of the Treasury, has a daughter who is getting married at what Jeremy calls "The Kentucky Derby of Weddings". Food, booze, and wealthy women abound at this event, but the boys get more than they bargained for. Each sets their sights on two of the Secretary's other daughters; John falls for sweet-natured, but already spoken for, Claire (Rachel McAdams), and Jeremy, figuring he'll simply get a quick score with Gloria (Isla Fisher) and move on, can't escape her clutches as she clings to him the rest of the day and beyond. Eventually John and Jeremy win over Mr. and Mrs. Cleary and are invited to stay with the family for the weekend at a getaway home.
Most of the hilarity takes place at the Cleary home as John and Jeremy's experiences take tremendously divergent paths. John is sincerely falling for Claire, while Jeremy wishes he never met Gloria. The real-life dynamic between Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn is what makes this film soar. Given freedom to spin out improvisational riffs, Wilson and Vaughn let their comic lights shine. Vaughn is particularly adept at spewing crafty similes in desperate attempts to understand his character's bizarre predicaments. His clickity-clat verbal tapdance dexterity makes for a rollicking good viewing, especially when contrasted to the casual drawl of Wilson. Furthermore, Vaughn's hysterical rants are matched only by his strained and contorted facial expressions as he reacts to own depravity.
Jeremy's suffering is classically contrasted to the increasing bliss of his best friend. Crashers is peppered with scenes highlighting the differences. In one football game scene, Jeremy endures physical trauma as John first flirts his way into Claire's heart. Then later at the family dinner, Jeremy must stoically maintain his composure under the intense scrutiny of Mr. Cleary's watchful eye, while Gloria plays more than footsie with him beneath the tablecloth. Truly, it's the comic climax of the movie, and the audience will roar in appreciation.
Since romance takes center stage near the film's end, the laughs taper off. Awkward moments involving an unexpected love triangle and a Mrs. Robinson-type of performance by Jane Seymour, who is definitely not Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, keep things light. The tenderness grows between John and Claire, and you would swear that some of the scenes shot between the two are test commercials for Gap. Despite these stylized moments, the humor has been so persistent up to this point that you'll wait patiently for them to drag by. Viewer investment is high and there are payoffs to be had.
Find your best friend and reminisce about all the lousy experiences you've shared together. There's bound to be humor mixed into that misery, and the ability to laugh at the misfortunes life casts upon us is what tightens friendship. Next, grab your friend by the hand and run to the theater, because this is the type of dynamic energy that shoots between Wilson and Vaughn and throughout Wedding Crashers. The viewing experience itself is destined to go down as another bonding moment between friends. So rejoice, people! We are no longer subject to the forced chemistry of supposed "comic duos" like Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. The bawdy buddy comedy of the decade is at long last here, and summer is shining brighter because of it.
Grade: A-
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I agree. This movie rocked. Can't wait to buy the DVD.
- Eric