Wedding Crashers (2005)
The Cast
Owen Wilson .... John Beckwith
Vince Vaughn .... Jeremy Grey
Christopher Walken .... Treasury Secretary William Cleary
Rachel McAdams .... Claire Cleary
Isla Fisher .... Gloria Cleary
Jane Seymour .... Kathleen Cleary
Ellen Albertini Dow .... Grandma Mary Cleary
Bradley Cooper .... Zack "Sack" Lodge
Ron Canada .... Randolph
Henry Gibson .... Father O'Neil
Dwight Yoakam .... Mr. Kroeger
Rebecca De Mornay .... Mrs. Kroeger
Will Ferrell .... Chazz Reinhold
Director David Dobkin appears to be some sort of fiendish matchmaker. First he directs Vince Vaughn in Clay Pigeons, bringing out a fantastic performance in the up & coming actor. Then Dobkin directs Owen Wilson in Shanghai Knights, a Jackie Chan-pseudo action comedy which couldn't have been further from Pigeons mood-wise. Then Dobkin somehow manages to get the now "Frat Packers" Wilson & Vaughn again, & directs one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long while. Thankfully there was no Ben Stiller around to dampen the funny.
The first time I saw a trailer for this movie I wondered how the hell they could stretch out such a thin premise to fill a full-length feature of around 90 minutes. How could it still be entertaining? Turns out I'd almost completely forgotten about the charisma of Vince Vaughn, as well as the aw-shucks-likability of Owen Wilson. Plus, you got Christopher Walken in a strong supporting role (though it could've been a bit more manic), as well as the lovely & talented Rachel McAdams completely making me forget about what a bitch she was in Mean Girls & reminding me why I fell in ♥ with her in The Notebook.
The movie unfolds at a break-neck Bruckheimer-esque pace, with the two main characters charming the pants off of you & everyone you know in a blink-&-you'll miss it twenty minutes or so. Then BAM, here you are meeting the supporting cast of psychos, including the fabulously filthy Jane Seymour (Kathleen Cleary), the smarmy fuckhole Bradley Cooper (Zack "Sack" Lodge), & the nutty nympho hottie Isla Fisher (Gloria Cleary). There isn't really an original plot you know. This is a scenario that's been around as long as movies have been made. It's the energy that this movie has that makes it seem original & fresh.
There are only so many ways that I can rave about this movie. It's one of the least subtle comedies I've ever watched, but truly one of the most enjoyable ones. It's not quickly thrown together either, it looks great & should entertain even the most jaded audience. If Wilson doesn't get you, McAdams will, & if she doesn't, well Vaughn's been there from the start, he'll reel you in. You're pretty helpless to the likability of this movie, & it brought me out of my post New Year's doldrums effortlessly.
5 outta 5