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"If there’s anyone who knows any reason why this
movie shouldn’t be made, speak now or forever hold
your peace." Too bad that issue wasn’t raised
before THE WEDDING PLANNER went into production.
But, hey, I’m sure filmmakers thought everything
would be okay. After all, they persuaded the
sensational Jennifer Lopez, fresh from her success
in THE CELL, to accept a starring role. And,
romantic comedies about weddings usually do well
at the box office. Remember MY BEST FRIEND’S
WEDDING and RUNAWAY BRIDE? Unfortunately, even
though Lopez is almost as watchable as Julia
Roberts, Matthew McConaughey can’t match Hugh
Grant or Richard Gere as a leading man. To make
matters worse, on-screen chemistry between the
film’s two stars is sadly lacking.
Still, things get off to a very good start. Lopez
exudes confidence as A-list San Francisco wedding
planner Mary Fiore. Looking and acting oh-so
sophisticated in her chic business suit, our
heroine knows just what to do at a posh wedding
when little details need attention --- such as the
FOB (father of the bride) starting to fall apart
or the bride having second thoughts. Finding the
bride’s father crying on a staircase, Mary uses
the "first aid" arsenal she hides around her waist
to spruce him up, then scoots him on his way.
Consoling the unsure bride, Mary says, "You are
exquisite. You are timeless. No wonder the groom
told me ‘I can’t believe she picked me.’ Your
marriage will last forever."
And so, this wedding, like the others she has
coordinated, turns out to be a big success. While
watching Mary supervise the ceremony from a
balcony, one young girl whispers to her friend,
"There’s the wedding planner. She must lead a very
romantic life."
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Mary
invests all her energy in her career, hoping to
become a full partner in the business she loves.
Then, by accident, she meets the man of her
dreams, pediatrician Steve Edison (McConaughey),
and falls hard for him. "You smell like sweet
plums and grilled cheese sandwiches," she moans as
he rescues her after a dislodged dumpster almost
runs her down on a busy San Francisco street. But
there’s a big disappointment in store for Mary.
Why? Because Steve turns out to be the groom of
her next wedding assignment.
From here on out, The Wedding Planner goes
downhill faster than that runaway dumpster.
Although Lopez maintains her charisma throughout
the film, McConaughey seems as out of place as
Will Rogers playing Rhett Butler. He’s painfully
awkward in two dance sequences with Lopez, even
though his character claims he’s had many ballroom
dancing lessons. He forces his smiles, looks goofy
when trying to appear romantic, and projects
insincerity in a serious confrontation scene with
the woman he’s supposed to marry (Bridgett
Wilson-Sampras). McConaughey should stick to
action films like U-571 and leave the romantic
comedy roles to others. (I can’t help thinking how
much better this movie would be with someone like
David Duchovny as Lopez’s co-star.)
Other casting errors produce similar problems
here. Justin Chambers (LIBERTY HEIGHTS)
shamelessly chews the scenery as a persistent
suitor from Sicily --- a part that should have
been given to an older actor. Judy Greer (WHAT
PLANET ARE YOU FROM?) hams it up as a
scatter-brained wedding planner assistant --- a
role requiring someone with impeccable comic
timing (Joan Cusack perhaps?) to make it work.
Trying his best to come across as an
overprotective father, veteran actor Alex Rocco
doesn’t pull it off for me. I couldn’t forget he’s
the guy who was executed by getting shot in the
eye in THE GODFATHER.
One of today’s top movie choreographers, Adam
Shankman, makes his feature-length directorial
debut with THE WEDDING PLANNER. His dance numbers
added sparkle to such films as SHE’S ALL THAT and
BLAST FROM THE PAST. It’s a mystery to me why he
goofed up with two big dance scenes in his own
film --- other than because of McConaughey’s
clumsiness, of course. One routine, a forced
tango, features Lopez and McConaughey conducting a
ridiculous argument during the entire number. The
only saving grace is Lopez in her sexy red dress.
In the other case, Shankman shows couples dancing
in the park in front of a movie musical. But he
chose the forgettable TWO TICKETS TO BROADWAY for
the background film. As I watched Lopez and
McConaughey waltz to the singing of Janet Leigh
and Tony Martin, oh how I longed for a glimpse of
truly great musical stars like Gene Kelly and Judy
Garland!
(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated "PG-l3"
for language and some sexual humor.)
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