|
Directed by |
|
Starring |
|
Specs |
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- 16:9 Enhanced
- Dual Layer (RSDL )
|
Languages |
- English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
|
Subtitles |
English - Hearing Impaired |
Extras |
- 4 Deleted scenes
- Theatrical trailer
- Audio commentary - Director Adam Shankman, writers Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis
- Cast/crew biographies
- Featurette - The Dancer and the Cowboy
- Animated menus
- Awards/Nominations
|
|
|
The Wedding Planner |
Columbia Pictures/Roadshow Entertainment .
R4 . COLOR . 99 mins .
M15+ . PAL |
Feature |
|
Contract |
|
It's the dream of so many girls from childhood - that one incredibly special day in your life when you get to be a princess - your wedding day. Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) shares this dream, however unlucky in love herself, and dateless for more than two years, she channels her incredible energies into planning the big days of others. And she's San Francisco's biggest whiz at it too - armed with her headset she coordinates the biggest of peoples' big days with military-like precision, locating MIA FOBs, fixing bodgy cleavages and pep talking the most nervous and neurotic of brides-to-be. Ah, she must lead such a romantic life... "Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't wed, plan." |
By far the most successful planner where she works, Mary confronts her boss Geri (the wonderful Kathy Najimy) demanding to be made a partner, and a deal is struck - land the massive Donolly account and she's in. However she ends up rather distracted, after a run in with a drain and a Gucci heel, and being saved from a steamrolling by a runaway dumpster, she thinks she's met her knight in shining armour - Dr Steve (Matthew McConaughey). However, there's just one slight problem, it transpires that he's the fiancé of power-blonde Fran Donolly (Pete Sampras' wife) - yes, THAT Donolly. Trying to remain professional to the end, and battling the amorous advances of doltish Paul Boom Boom Boom Lekakis wannabe Massimo, who her Scrabble-loving father is trying to arrange a marriage with, Mary is inundated. As a tale involving dancing, drunkenness, male bonding, horse riding, lost loves, cold feet, macho posturing, weak wills and mopeds unfolds, will the Donolly wedding go off without a hitch (or in this case perhaps that should be WITH a hitch?), landing her with her partnership? Or will affairs of the heart win out? Choreographer Adam Shankman makes a decent fist of things with his directorial debut, with some truly magical scenes and imaginative camerawork, and all importantly a premise with promise. However, generally where romantic comedies succeed or fail is in the chemistry department - and sadly there just isn’t a particularly strong one between the leads J Lo and McConaughey. Whilst none of the performances are bad per se, they just don’t seem to have that necessary spark between them, and things are left to an often fabulous supporting cast, notably Alex Rocco as Mary's father Salvatore, the criminally under utilised Kathy Najimy, Murphy Brown's Charles Kimbrough as the nothing's-too-good-for-my-daughter Mr Donolly and Judy Greer as Penny, Mary's scatterbrained assistant, to really bolster the entertainment value of the film.
Video |
|
Contract |
|
The bad news? There's one infinitesimal almost-aliasing moment involving a glass door, and the layer change is quite horrendous, occurring mid scene and rather jarring. The good news? It's 2.35:1, which is certainly a nice change for a romantic comedy; it's anamorphic and, well, everything else basically. In all this is an incredibly impressive visual transfer that will have the more boffin-like out there drooling and uttering such phrases as "reference quality".
Audio |
|
Contract |
|
Accompanied by a perfectly fine 5.1 mix, whilst not exactly the type of disc you spin into action to show off your system, surrounds are used subtly but effectively throughout, with minimal subwoofwoof action. There are no issues with synching, and dialogue was clear at all times, the only posers being some of the fake accents which proved a little challenging to catch on odd occasions. The soundtrack is typical fare for this type of flick, a fairly inconsequential score from Mervyn Warren that never draws attention to itself, yet would be missed it if it wasn't there. Needless to say this is augmented by a plethora of soppy pop songs from a string of mostly unknowns, although the fabulous Lisa Stansfield pops up, as do John Denver, Livvie and somebody covering sleazebag I-divorced-my-wife-by-fax Phil Collins' Groovy Kind of Love (irony in its inclusion in such a film as this?) Need I bother to mention that J Lo gets a Guernsey in the soundtrack department too? No, I guess not...
Extras |
|
Contract |
|
Overall |
|
Contract |
|
If you're after a mushy romantic comedy to curl up with, and aren’t too fussy, then this fluffy example may very well be your ticket. It has most of what we've come to expect from such films - even that all important thunderstorm - and whilst there's a certain magic missing between the leads they are still quite likeable in their own ways. Be warned though, you may wish to keep a bucket handy. Visual and audio presentation on this disc cannot be faulted, and whilst the extras aren’t as good as they sound on paper, especially in light of the brevity of many of them, there's still enough to keep the less cynical out there amused for a while. Oh, and the best news? Whilst McConaughey does keep his clothes on, at least there's no sign of any bongos anywhere...
LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=889
Send to a friend.
|
|
|
And I quote... |
"A mushy, fluffy romantic comedy for the not-too-fussy to curl up with. Essential viewing though if your name is Muriel..." - Amy Flower |
|
Review Equipment |
- DVD Player:
Pioneer DV-535
- TV:
Sony 68cm
- Receiver:
Onkyo TX-DS494
- Speakers:
DB Dynamics Eclipse RBS662
- Centre Speaker:
DB Dynamics Eclipse ECC442
- Surrounds:
DB Dynamics Eclipse ECR042
- Subwoofer:
DTX Digital 4.8
- Audio Cables:
Standard RCA
- Video Cables:
Standard Component RCA
|
Recent Reviews: |
by Amy Flower The Simpsons - Gone Wild "Fox get the dartboard out again to compile another haphazard four-episode release of Simpsons episodes… "
The Commitments: SE "A rollicking good flick that manages to be musical without being naff..."
Placebo - Soulmates Never Die: Live in Paris "One for all Nancy Boys and Ashtray Girls to treasure."
Amazon Women on the Moon "...worth a look if you’ve never before had the pleasure. Bullshit, or not?"
Jack & Sarah "Proving that simplicity is no obstruction to brilliance, this is an ultimately sweet (but not sickeningly so) tale that gives all those bigger English films out there a more than respectable run for their money... "
|
|
|
Related Links |
|
|