Love and marriage; and a death thrown in for good measure...

DVDs:


	• Four Weddings and a Funeral Hugh Grant, James Fleet MGM (Video & DVD), 1999 average customer review:based on 114 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Love and marriage; and a death thrown in for good measure...

Highly regarded as one of the finest British comedies of all time, `Four Weddings and a Funeral' started off rather harsh (with perhaps 20 F-Bombs before another word was even spoken) and ended on the other side of sweet (awwww, they're kissing in the rain). In the end, `Four Weddings...' works rather nicely, and while it's not the best British comedy in my opinion (I prefer screenwriter Richard Curtis' very own `Love Actually'), it is very enjoyable and worthy of most the love and accolades it has received.

The film revolves around a group of friends who discover love, friendship and life over the course of four weddings and a funeral (or should I say, `three weddings, a funeral and half a wedding' to be more precise). At the center of this group is Charles, a bachelor who is afraid of commitment. His commitment phobia seems to fade away when he meets the mysteriously elusive American, Carrie, at a wedding. They have a moment and then she is gone and he can't stop thinking about her. The remainder of the film follows Charles as he tries to reconnect with Carrie, obstacle after obstacle falling into his path.

I've read another review recently that mentioned how Andie MacDowell was perfectly cast as Carrie for the very fact that she is a boring actress, and her lack of natural charm made Charles interest in her all the more interesting. I can agree. I have never found MacDowell to be a particularly intriguing actress, that is for sure, but here she draws me in, mostly because I find myself trying to see what Charles sees in her.

The film is littered with wonderfully full performances, especially by Hugh Grant and Kristen Scott Thomas, but no one can really be singled out as `worst-in-show' since everyone involved rises to the occasion and hands the audience a wonderful experience. Grant though, should be singled out as `best-in-show' for he really personifies what he has been trying to personify since he first appeared on the big screen. Some actors are always given a hard time for constantly playing variations of the same character. Some do so wonderfully, others not so wonderfully. Grant has made a career of, rather wonderfully, playing the commitment phoebe that unintentionally pushes everyone away with his arrogance. Charles is the perfect example of this character because Grant has softened him to the point where his arrogance is an understatement and his gentle nature is his major selling point. I am still baffled at the fact that Grant has yet to receive an Academy Award nomination, for he is constantly effortless in his roles and typically stands out in every film he inhabits as `best-in-show'. Kristen Scott Thomas is also edible as Fiona, capturing the comedy within the script effortlessly, and inhabiting her character with real warmth and genuine heart. Her secret desires for Charles help create a three dimensional character who is both easy to love and easy to understand.

It must be said that Richard Curtis knows how to pen a winning comedy. His style of wit and poignancy help elevate `Four Weddings and a Funeral' from a generic romantic comedy to something much deeper and ultimately much more memorable. He has a knack for giving his characters something to sink their teeth into, something to really embellish and deliver to the audience. He creates characters that we can feel connected to, and we truly feel connected to the ones presented us in `Four Weddings...'.

In the end `Four Weddings and a Funeral' is a feel good romantic comedy that hits almost every mark and delivers a beautifully fulfilling cinematic experience. It has its faults, sure, and it misses the mark in some areas, but not every film is aimed at perfection. What every film is aimed at though is entertainment, and `Four Weddings and a Funeral' definitely entertains.

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Mild entertainment

This film passes one's time reasonably pleasantly. However, if one is looking for laughter, one should look elsewhere. The story line and development are thin; indeed, we basically do just attend four weddings and a funeral, watching the lead actor struggle with his desire to avoid commitment.

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4 Weddings and a Funerala

This is to replace my VHS copy. I regard this film as one of my top 10 comedies and want it on a more substantial product.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

A young man meets and falls in love with a young woman while attending various weddings (and a funeral), including hers to someone else, and his to another woman.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: R
Release Date: 19-DEC-2000
Media Type: DVD

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