WMR #8 - Wedding Daze

Wedding Daze: 2006

Viewing: week of 5/23

(I've come up with a new header system for easier perusing!)

Summary:

At the beginning of this movie Anderson (Jason Biggs) loses his girlfriend to sudden death by hearth failure on the night he proposes to her. He spends some time in mourning - a lot of time - and finally his friend Ted (Michael Weston) decides that he needs to move on. Ted randomly picks their server and tells her that Anderson has something to ask her. He says, "Will you marry me?" The girl, Katie (Isla Fisher), had just been proposed to the night before by her really weird-ass boyfriend and didn't want to say yes (to the boyfriend). So instead, she says "yes" to Anderson...even before they've been introduced. 

Followed is a wacky series of superfast relationship acts, meeting the parents (of whom Katie's dad is in prison), Anderson being all "unsure of himself" and other completely bizarro stuff that I think is more appropriate to get into during the review section.

The first scene where he proposes - this does not bode well  for the movie

Review:

This plot line actually has quite a bit of potential to be heart-warming, funny, quirky and enjoyable. Unfortunately the execution was poor, poor, poor, poor, poor. 

A seriously cute moment about to go horribly wrong.

First, all the characters are WAY too goofy/unbelievable. Anderson's parents are involved in some weirdo and completely non-sequitur-ian sexual fetish-y acts. Katie's dad is a really angry and stupidly portrayed convict who escapes from jail to see his daughter's wedding. Isla's mom and step dad are totally ridiculous and halfway through the movie she gets back together with the prison dad and they rob a tuxedo shop and do some other nefarious acts. Katie's best friends are some kind of Russian circus freak wannabes (which could have been done well but wasn't). The cops are completely horrible. Anderson is a huge pussy. Katie's ex-boyfriend is just a fop. The only normal/believable characters are Ted and kind of Katie (though they even make her look too over-the-top crazy in a few scenes).

Even the nomenclature is bad. It shouldn't have been called Wedding Daze since there is NO actually "wedding planning" going on. Instead they go the other route with moving in and meeting the parents - which is more like beginning of relationship stuff than wedding stuff. I think this movie was originally called "The Next Girl I See" and I think that would've been a much better name for this movie. 

Another cute moment that doesn't last. (ok seriously...all the pictures on the web are of the good scenes. Maybe b/c they thought the horrifying ones would scare people away...)

And there are some a lot of scenes in the movie where you're sitting there going "HUH?!".  Like one of Isla's friends, Matador (Ebon Boss-Marach), hits Anderson with his car. And another where Anderson's dad gives him a cock ring. And another where Katie's step dad shows them his kids toy called the "Jewnicorn" (yes, it's a Jewish unicorn...complete with tiny yamaka (I have no idea how to spell that and Google is not helping)). I could go on but if you REALLY want to see it I won't ruin eveything. But please....don't bother!

Verdict:

I'd give this movie a 1.5 stars because I like the concept and Isla Fisher is adorable. Also, there are a few scenes that are really, truly funny. "What are they?" You ask. I have no idea as the horrible scenes are the ones that have been burned into my brain. And the movie still wasn't worth the few laughs. 

Math's verdict coming soon. 

Next up - The Wedding Planner. Which is not looking promising so far...

Wedding Movie List: 
1). Father of the Bride  2/5
2). My Big Fat Greek Wedding  4/5
3). The Wedding Singer
4). Made of Honor
5). The Wedding Crashers
6). Four Weddings and a Funeral
7). 27 Dresses
8). My Best Friend's Wedding
9). Bride Wars 2/5
10). The Wedding Planner
11). Bridesmaids 1/5
12). Muriel's Wedding
13). Runaway Bride
14). You Again 1/5
15). Something Borrowed 1/5

16). I Love You, Man 4/5

17). The Hangover

18). Wedding Daze 1.5.5