Hide your bridesmaids.
Rating: 9/10
Running Time: 119 minutes
US Certificate: R UK Certificate: 15
Its here at last. Someones finally managed it. Its the comedy the entire dating population of the western world has been waiting for. They said it couldnt be done, but Wedding Crashers proves it can. Yup, thats right its a flick that successfully pulls off a merger between chick-flick rom-coms and gross-out lad-laughs. Whatever side of the fence you normally sit on, youll love this one. If you dont, youre officially the worlds biggest curmudgeon. So there.
Bringing together Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn for the third time in four years (the other two occasions were 2001s Zoolander and 2004s Starsky & Hutch), this absolute triumph of a comedy focuses on two fun-loving bachelor-boys and their frankly-ingenious pulling technique. Basically, they turn up uninvited at weddings, blag their way in, and then use a series of pre-planned schmoozings to work their way into the short-term affections of the leggy lovelies in attendance. Its a foolproof scheme or, at least, thats what they think until theyre daft enough to let their emotions get in the way of a good time.
With its hilarious dialogue and wonderful comic performances, this slickly-written buddy-pic has stumbled upon a near-perfect formula. Its got enough swearies, girlie nudity and dumb one-liners to satisfy the boys, but with its surprisingly sweet romantic plot and up-lifting climax it should also curry favour with the womenfolk. And, while Vaughn and Wilson are right at home with their squabbling, laddish but essentially good-natured characters, there are also stand-out displays from Rachel McAdams and one-time Home & Away ginge Isla Fisher as the chalk-and-cheese girls they end up paired-off with. This is one wedding thats well worth raising a glass to.
It's Got: A stage 5 clinger.
It Needs: A good reception.
Summary
This wonderful buddy-com has a great heart and an even better funny bone. Easily the best comedy of 2005 so far.