The Film
Before Hugh Grant was the object of Bridget Jones's obsessions (and her diary), he was part of the English ensemble for Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Grant plays commitment-phobic Charles, whose recent string of wedding invitations seems to drive home the fact that he still hasn't found his one and only. Enter Carrie (Andie MacDowell), an American beauty who could be the one -- or at least the one right now. The two have a tryst before Carrie heads back home to the U.S. They do meet again, at another wedding (of course), where Charles can't believe that Carrie is now engaged. Not to worry, hopeless romantics; two more weddings and a funeral means there are still plenty of opportunities for the two to couple up.
The film doesn't bother with everything else that's going on in these people's lives. Frankly, isn't four weddings and a funeral enough for one movie?
It's not that the docket is jam-packed or even Hugh Grant that makes this movie such a charmer. It's that Four Weddings and a Funeral takes such a different approach the to rom-com genre, as evidenced by the f-bomb laden opening. Of course, Grant doesn't hurt, and the rest of the cast is just as wonderful, as it includes Kristin Scott Thomas, John Hannah, Simon Callow, Charlotte Coleman, and Rowan Atkinson.
The Picture
Four Weddings and a Funeral isn't a spectacular looking film, especially given its subject matter. However, it looks very nice for its age. The film's opening is its weakest point; you'd think that a wedding would pop a little more with all of the flowers and other details. By the time we hit the reception, a much warmer palette kicks in. The film is a little grainy, but not overly so. As with a lot of rom-coms around this time, the film has more than its share of soft scenes. Close-ups fare much better, to the point where you can see the little hairs on the back of Hugh Grant's neck. Even with its faults, this 1.85:1 transfer is a noticeable upgrade from what has come before.
The Sound
MGM has given this rom-com a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which delivers every accent (even Andie MacDowell's) perfectly. It also has a decent amount of surround sound, which is really impressive, especially for an older rom-com. Of course, with four weddings and a funeral, there are plenty of crowds, leaving plenty of ambient noises for the surrounds. There are also car screeches and horns, thunder, and church organs. It's by no means an immersive experience, but adds a bit of flavor to an otherwise front-heavy experience.
The Extras
Like many of MGM's recent Blu-ray releases, this one is lacking a main menu, only to jump right into the film. However, unlike some of those titles, this one offers up a decent amount of extras. The commentary doesn't feature any of the on-screen talent, but includes director Mike Newell, producer Duncan Kenworthy and writer/co-executive producer (and writer/director of Love Actually) Richard Curtis.
Other than that, there are a few small items like the 8-minute making-of featurette and a short entitled, "Two Actors and a Director." Both play like promo pieces, but the latter has an interesting line about Andie MacDowell being cast because she was both "gorgeous and American." The more detailed stuff can be found in "The Wedding Planners," which has almost 30 minutes about the film's origin and inspiration, the casting, how the film was received, and other info.
Final Thoughts
It's hard to resist Hugh Grant -- especially a young Hugh Grant. If you don't agree, you probably haven't seen Four Weddings and a Funeral, which is undoubtedly his best film (were you thinking it was Did You Hear About the Morgans?). Even if you aren't a Grant fan, this film is quirky, funny, and sort of touching. The Blu-ray isn't the best we've seen, but it's certainly a nice boost and well worth the low price on Amazon.
Product Details
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