The Big Wedding posterOuch. This movie is getting some harsh reviews. So maybe I missed something – or am simply more forgiving – ‘cause I didn’t hate it. I actually thought it was mildly amusing, especially if you’re in the mood for a quirky, formulaic, pseudo-romantic, somewhat raunchy comedy that’s strictly for grown-ups. Sure, it’s not as good as you might expect (or hope), considering the all-star cast. But it’s not as bad as it might have been, thanks to an all-star cast. If you have 90 minutes to kill and want to say “I Do”, here’s the scoop:

The movie is about a dysfunctional modern family that gets together for a weekend wedding celebration. Needless to say, they carry a lot of baggage.

There’s Don (Robert DeNiro), the lascivious recovering alcoholic father of the groom; Bebe (Susan Sarandon), Don’s longtime girlfriend and former best friend of his ex-wife, Ellie (Diane Keaton); Lyla (Katherine Heigl), the groom’s high-strung sister, who is suffering from marital problems and daddy issues; Jared (Topher Grace), the groom’s brother, an attractive OB-GYN who is saving himself for the right girl – or not; Alejandro (Ben Barnes), the groom, who was adopted from Columbia and doesn’t want his devoutly Catholic biological mother Madonna (Patricia Rae) to know that his adoptive parents are long-divorced; and Missy (Amanda Seyfried), the fiancé, whose parents Barry (David Rasche) and Muffin (Christine Ebersol) are a pair of buffoonish bigots. There’s also a disapproving goofball priest, Father Moinighan (Robin Williams); and Alejandro’s hot-blooded, uninhibited half-sister Nuria (Ana Ayora).

The premise is, without a doubt, ill-conceived and contrived. The groom asks his adoptive parents to pretend they’re still married for the weekend, even though he’s close to his common-law stepmother. The farce triggers a series of events, confrontations, hijinks, and misunderstandings that come to a head on the big day. The movie doesn’t pack any significant emotional punches, but the characters are all generally likable, the cast is solid, and the story unfolds at a steady clip once everyone is assembled and properly identified.

I wouldn’t call this a Wedding to remember. But it’s still kind of fun to attend – if only to see the likes of DeNiro, Sarandon and Keaton sharing the big screen. And, you don’t have to bring a gift! That’s gotta count for something.

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