Planning a wedding can be stressful – oh yes it is, believe me! But, over in the USA they have people who will take some of that stress away from you – the ‘Wedding Planner’. And this one is played by the ever gorgeous Jennifer Lopez.
Director Adam Shankman has taken plenty of criticism for this film when it came out in the US. OK So it will not win any Oscars, but The Wedding Planner is a good ‘date movie’ or just a plain old romantic ‘feel good flick’.
All men cannot fail to fall for the charms of Miss Lopez and in this she shows she can a) act and b) play a comic role (well she can do whatever ‘roll’ she wants with me!). She is probably best known for her co-starring role with George Clooney in ‘Out of Sight’ and last years cult film ‘The Cell’ – plus her fab figure and those dresses! This time she co-stars with Matthew McConaughey, who is a much more ‘heavyweight’ actor in the business and it’s rare to see him playing a romantic type of role.
Anyway on to the plot, Mary Fiore (Lopez) is the San Francisco’s most sought-after wedding planner. She ‘bumps into Dr. Edison (McConaughey), in a near-fatal collision. She falls for his charms and they spend a number of romantic interludes before she finds out she is in fact planning his wedding!
Edison’s fiancée is Fran (Bridget Wilson-Sampras) and Mary has convinced her boss to give her a partnership if she got Fran – a successful businesswoman - as a wedding client. Mary is then torn between the ethics of her job and the passion she feels for her ‘beau’. Things are tough and she is only kept from doing NOT the right thing by her busy assistant.
Things start to get complicated as Massimo, Mary’s childhood Italian friend is introduced into the ‘mix’. Mary can only remember Massimo as a grubby kid who liked to play in the mud, but he reckons that she’s got the hots for him so bad – he deludes himself – somehow – into believing they are now engaged.
Getting confused yet?
Never mind, there are subplots buzzing around all over the place as the film lurches almost into good old British farce at times. The direction occasionally seems to have literally ‘lost the plot’, but the film’s two stars salvage the thing. They definitely have some kind of ppecial ‘chemistry’ between them. They both show they can effectively handle this romantic comedy genre and if Miss Lopez can continue in this vein, she will soon be taken – if not seriously – as an actress at least regarded as just that.. ‘an actress’.
Definitely not a classic, but fun for a night out with friends. But put Bridget Jones in your Diary first, then Miss Congeniality, before settling down with this lightweight, but enjoyable piece of ‘eye candy’.