Image provided by fanpop.com, trailer courtesy of youtube.com

“Wedding Crashers” has some absolute hilarious scenes but the movie doesn’t know what it is. The beginning of the film shows some amazingly humorous scenes but as it progresses it becomes a gooey romantic comedy, spoiling the fun for an audience looking for a raunchy teen comedy.

My Rating –
Directed by David Dobkin
Starring  Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Christopher Walken, Bradley Cooper
Screenplay by Bob Fisher, Steve Faber
Original Music by Rolfe Kent
Runtime – 119 mins.

The older crowd wouldn’t necessarily enjoy certain aspects of the film; involving tramp stamps, stage five “virgin clingers,” and “sealing the deal,” (or maybe they would).

It also lacks a certain genre consistency, and as a young adult, I was upset by the sappy love story that slowly unfolds in the last parts of the film. Most raunchy comedies (“Old School” and “Van Wilder”) have some form of love story, but it is mostly underdeveloped and it doesn’t take up the 50% of the film.

Most raunchy comedies also have a consistent style for certain characters; a protagonist, possibly a deuteragonist, a love interest and usually an antagonist(s). “Wedding Crashers” does have all these things, but our antagonist, Sack (Bradley Cooper), seems to be completely devoid of any form of comedy. It would be nice to see some humor from him that doesn’t involve beating the crap out of Owen Wilson or tackling Vince Vaughn.

Speaking of Vaughn and Wilson, they do have some great dialogue together and they do fit the role of two guys still obsessed with the idea of getting laid. Perhaps as a way to relieve stress from being high-stress divorce attorneys, or not being able to face the principle of getting old, these two middle age men seem to possess the mentality of a typical teenager.

All together, this film makes for a humorous one if you watch it with the right people. A girlfriend may find it interesting, albeit raunchy in some parts, and I wouldn’t recommend watching it with your parents.

Although the direction and character development needs some work, the plot is an excellent one; very unique. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson play middle-aged full-time lawyers and part-time wedding crashers. By using fake names and pretending to be distant and mysterious relatives, the duo manages to help themselves to all the free food, drink and women they can get.

Unfortunately it doesn’t stay all fun and games for long.

When John Beckwith (Wilson) finds himself falling for a senators daughter, Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams), he is forced to either pursue her or be true to his best friend and co-crasher, Jeremy Grey (Vaughn). When John chooses to pursue her, Jeremy is then put in awkward and equally dangerous situation when he falls for Claire’s nympho sister, Gloria (Isla Fisher).

With both men attempting to seek the approval of Gloria and Clair’s father, played by the awkwardly hilarious Christopher Walken, the remainder of the film shows that its grow-up time for Jeremy and John. Wedding crashers also introduces the recently popular actor Bradley Cooper, although playing a much different role than “limitless” and the two hangover films.

I must say that although I think the movie has some truly funny scenes, the entire second half of the movie tries desperately to be funny but than turns into a bunch of mopey scenes of despair and eventually leads to a heart-wrenching love story. Using clichéd comedic gimmicks such as awkward, yet raunchy, dinner scenes (already seen in movies such as “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “When Harry Met Sally”) and instead of having a grumpy old granny, director David Dobkin uses a filthy one.

Instead of clean jokes, she makes lesbian jokes about Eleanor Roosevelt and even calls her grandson a “homo.” These are all good and funny, but I can see many people getting offended by this film. Even though It’s true that in almost every movie line at least one group or another will be offended, “Wedding Crashers” really pushes the envelope. The worst part about its lack of performance.

Comedies that push the envelope need to perform or else they will forever be categorized as a teen movie. For someone looking for an abundance of raunchy humor but also an attempted love story (doesn’t really fit does it), this movie is right for you. For others looking for a PG-13 or even an R-rated movie, but without all the raunch, stick to the classics like “Sleepless In Seattle” or “When Harry Met Sally.” And for the person looking for that vulgar comedy, but without having to fast forward through scenes of romance, stick to Howard Stern’s “Private Parts” or “Revenge of the Nerds.”