If you thought your wedding planning was overhwelming or hectic or frustrating or anxious or drove you a little batty… you probably never went through what friends Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) go through on the way to the biggest day of their lives.

This movie has all the elements of a box office hit, “Bride Wars” should knock “Marley & Me” out of its two-week run at #1 at the box office.

In what is the best wedding comedy since “Father of the Bride” (1991), wedding dreams turn to wedding disasters for best buds Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) who have been planning their perfect days ever since they were kids.   But all their problems can be blamed on each other because they undermine and sabotage each other’s weddings after they are double-booked for the same day at the hard-to-reserve location of their dreams.

This is more than friendly competition, “Bride Wars” perfectly (with some exaggeration) captures how planning a wedding can make the bride-to-be crazy… with one exclaiming “Your wedding better watch it” to the other, than later one bride gets blue hair, the other an orange spray-on tan as they dial up the pranks on each other.

Candice Bergen has a good supporting role as Marion St. Claire, the most sought-after wedding coordinator in Manhattan… Kristen Johnston plays a boozed up fluze fellow teacher to Hathaway… and it was nice to see John Pankow again, he played Ira Buchman, Paul’s cousin on “Mad About You”. 

THE BOTTOM LINE: “Bride Wars” is not just about the matrimonial adversaries, its infused with comedy throughout, with little jokes like how getting married impacts single friends, a bride-to-be dance-off, and more… I give it 7.5 out of 10.   Sure the ending is a little predictable, but for what this movie is and isn’t trying to be, its worth the price of admission.  And I even look forward to the possible sequel that the ending left as a possible option… or just ironic end to a good movie.

 “Bride Wars”

(2009) (rated: PG for suggestive content, language and some rude behavior) (1 hr, 34 min)

Starring: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Bryan Greenberg, Chris Pratt, Steve Howey, Candice Bergen, Kristen Johnston, Michael Arden, John Pankow, Casey Wilson

Director: Gary Winick – “Charlotte’s Web” (2006), “13 Going on 30″ (2004)

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Wedding

The Plot: Two best friends become rivals when they schedule their respective weddings on the same day.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

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“Bride Wars” poster courtesy Regency/20th Century Fox

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In the first of a day-night movie doubleheader, my wife and I saw “The Women”… the theater was almost full… all women, and I think 2 other guys.

But here’s the twist for all you guys… this is a good “date movie” to take the wife, girlfriend, or girl that’s “just a friend” … she’ll be glad you did !!

“The Women”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for sex-related material, language, some drug use and brief smoking) (1 hr, 54 min)

Starring: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, Ana Gasteyer

Genre: Comedy/Drama

The Plot: A wealthy New Yorker leaves her cheating husband and bonds with other society women at a resort. A remake of George Cukor’s 1939 film “The Women.”

MY TAKE (spoiler free):

Well, let me start by saying my wife loved it… about as much as “Sex and the City”… she connected to it because, she says, the movie is exactly the way women act around each other.

I like it because of the good character development and *believe me* when I tell you there’s *a lot* of characters to develop… about 10 by my count that have significant screen time… and all of the actresses are the perfect fit for the characters they are playing.

Speaking of all those characters… “The Women” is directed by Diane English has an all female cast… except for 1 male that makes a brief appearance at the end of the movie (not including background extras).

Amoung that huge cast… some scene stealers: Cloris Leachman and Candice Bergen… they were funny… and stole some of the scenes from the main cast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: 

“The Women” has a great ensemble cast and a solid storyline that even men can be interested in… and enjoy… I give it 7.5 out of 10… with no major issues…. just not good enough to make the 8.0 category.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

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