Director: David Dobkin
Starring: Owen Wilson, Christopher Walken and Rachel McAdams
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many stars have made films audiences treasure like Bradley Cooper. Since his fame in the 1990’s, Cooper has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s alcoholic singers, Bipolar patients or drug users, Cooper has played many characters. Arguably, Cooper’s finest strength as an actor is his commitment to craft. He is one of those actors that has an aptitude for stealing the show in supporting roles that have limited screen-time. Even if he isn’t a main focus of a movie, Cooper has left a long lasting impression. Through his ability to play characters that are engaging, Cooper has created a commemorated legacy that’s lasting. An actor with a strong commitment towards his craft, Cooper has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Throughout his bold career, Cooper has made many memorable movies which are absolutely worth talking about.
I’m a massive fan of Cooper and adore all the movies which he has made in his career. However, “Wedding Crashers” is truly my favourite. Released in 2005, David Dobkin’s comedy offered a strong portrait of doomed weddings. Packed with stunning production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the finest comedies ever made. At the centre of it all is a superb performance by Bradley Cooper, who plays a bachelor. Ultimately, what makes “Wedding Crashers” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most movies about weddings, it discusses strong themes that everyone would relate to. A captivating comedy about a wedding, there are countless reasons why “Wedding Crashers” is a commemorated comedy that is worth watching.
“Wedding Crashers” follows a pair of friends that crash weddings causing disaster. Owen Wilson portrays John Beckwoth, a bachelor seeking a companion. Assisted by his best friend Jeremy (Vince Vaughn), John has a hobby of gatecrashing weddings causing a disaster. John and Jeremy have commonly enjoyed gatecrashing weddings which they care about deeply. However, their hobby of being wedding crashers comes under threat when John falls in love. Attracted to bride to be Claire (Rachel McAdams), John faces an intense dilemma. Facing hardships proving frightening, John questions whether he can any longer gatecrash a wedding. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, John is forced to wonder if it’s possible for him to be a wedding crasher.
David Dobkin is fascinated with the themes of friendship. A fantastic filmmaker, Dobkins has often made movies about friends facing disaster. His iconic film “Shanghai Knights” offered a strong portrait of a pair of friends that seek best to be knights. With “Wedding Crashers”, however, the director created his first wedding comedy. It was Dobkin’s first attempt to convey bachelors that gatecrash weddings causing adversity but he pulled it off effectively. Using bold cinematography, Dobkin captures weddings that experience adversity. Inspired with Mike Newell’s “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, Dobkin effectively uses handheld camera to capture weddings that face adversity. For instance, handheld camera elevates the wedding gatecrashing scene. During this hilarious scene, John and Jeremy gatecrash their first wedding which comes with consequences. Using handheld camerawork, Dobkin creates an engaging portrait of a wedding. Handheld camera is a tricky technique. As Bradley Cooper’s “A Star is Born” suggested, handheld camera elevates movies about musicians. However, if works tremendously in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Dobkin captures tensions weddings are facing.
Another commendable aspect of “Wedding Crashers” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it is an extremely well made film. Inspired with Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate”, Dobkin uses the production of a wedding to capture the tensions bachelors are facing. For instance, the strong setting of weddings elevates the marriages scene. During this unforgettable scene, John witnesses his friends getting a marriage causing joy. Through captivating production, Dobkin creates a captivating comedic portrait of a wedding. Moreover, the musical score is dazzling. Rolfe Kent’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere through capturing the heavy burden weddings bear. Using stunning production, Dobkin captures tension that disastrous weddings are often facing.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Wedding Crashers” is a comedy which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture the tensions which bachelors in weddings are facing. Emulating PJ Hogan’s “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, Dobkin deftly uses dramatic monologues to capture the tension of bachelors in a broken wedding. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the wedding speech scene. During this bold scene, John delivers a rousing speech about his views on marriage in the wedding. Using dramatic monologues, Dobkin constructs a portrait of marriage audiences can relate to. Dramatic monologues are tricky techniques to use in films. As David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” suggested, monologues enhance movies about mental illness. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Dobkin captures the lives of wedding crashers that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Bradley Cooper delivers one of his greatest performances as Sack. Cooper first earned recognition playing bachelors in a hangover. With “Wedding Crashers”, however, Cooper took on his most comedic role. It isn’t easy to portray a bold bachelor that gatecrashes weddings causing adversity but he pulled it off successfully. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, strong and vulnerable in his most memorable role. Cooper has a sharp sense of humour, and “Wedding Crashers” exhibited his comedic talents as an actor. It’s a bold performance from one of the most commemorated actors in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Bradley Cooper, the supporting cast is also spectacular and worthy of recognition. Owen Wilson is outstanding, capturing the determination of a bachelor that strives to gatecrash weddings causing tension. Vince Vaughn is wonderful, capturing nature of a bachelor that seeks to gatecrash a wedding causing disaster. Lastly, Christopher Walken merits appreciation. As a troubled father, he brings hilarious comical relief towards the film.
Finally, “Wedding Crashers” would achieve praise of everyone for capturing weddings facing failures. Unlike most movies about weddings, it tackles strong themes which everyone would relate to. It discusses bold themes including ambition, mental health and trauma which would resonate among everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of weddings to appreciate it. It delivers a bold message about weddings resonating with everyone. Therefore, “Wedding Crashers” is one of those rare movies about weddings everyone would adore.
Fans of Bradley Cooper would absolutely enjoy “Wedding Crashers” and so would movie-goers seeking strong entertainment. A captivating comedy about a wedding, it honours an actor that’s inspiring.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking comedy about bachelors seeking to gatecrash a wedding, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor that hasn’t lost his abilities to engage audiences through manufacturing unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 