Wedding Crashers Review
By Chris Dobens
Better Than A Wedding
On the surface, "Wedding Crashers" may seem like just another formulaic comedy. Owen Wilson plays the Owen Wilson character. It's sort of a loveable loser - the immature schemer with a heart of gold and enough charm to make even Stalin smile. And it's a role he does very well, with his trademark timing and delivery - a slow sort of chummy whine. His self-effacing persona is endearing, and he makes audiences feel comfortable with the characters he portrays. He's the American Hugh Grant.
Similarly, Vince Vaughn plays the Vince Vaughn character. It's the obnoxious friend who means well. With far faster timing and the kind of precision delivery that makes even NASA envious, Vaughn spews hyper-wit with unparalleled ease. He says what every guy wants to say, but with enough sincerity to make it believable - regardless of the role.
But what sets Vaughn apart is the power he brings to bear, despite these seemingly homogenous roles he's given. And for those who have seen him in films like Be Cool, you know that he brings his A-game to every performance - regardless of what is required. The boy has talent, and fills his niche with a level of intensity that most character actors only fantasize about.
Together, Vaughn and Wilson make an unbeatable team. They could take an average script and charge it up into a full-blown blockbuster. Fortunately for viewers, the script for Wedding Crashers gives them more than enough material. Like Olivier doing Shakespeare, Vaughn and Wilson are perfectly suited for this sort of thing. Their combined talents catapult Wedding Crashers into the comedic stratosphere.
So forget the formulaic, Wedding Crashers works. It's like the Bad Lieutenant of laughter. The humor is nonstop and supercharged. Yes, men behave badly, but we are all in on the joke.
As I said, Wilson and Vaughn seem tailor-made for their roles. Rachel McAdams is an exceptionally pleasant surprise as the primary love interest - the kind of girl that every guy would want to be with. And Christopher Walken plays that Christopher Walken character, bringing his unique blend of creepy detachment to the patriarch role. There's also a surprise cameo, but I won't give that one away. And I'm not talking about Jane Seymour.
My advice is to go see Wedding Crashers, at all costs. If you are a guy, you will either have flashbacks to your misspent youth, early adulthood, or recent mid-life crisis, or you will live the fantasy of being the guy you always wanted to be - a man without consequences. If you are a girl, you will either be thrilled at a look behind the supposed scenes of the alpha male psyche, or you will take comfort with the heartwarming notion that inside every cad lies a genuine person just waiting for the right girl to set him free. No matter what, you will laugh - young, old, man, woman, bride, groom.
Wedding Crashers is like a wedding. It's fun, fast-paced, and a good time for all. And the only people who really have to work are those in it. So go and have a good time…it's guaranteed.
