My Best Friend’s Wedding
Julianne Potter is a 27 food critic, who is weeks away from turning 28 – and has just gotten a phone call from Michael, her ‘one that got away’ best friend. She thinks he’s about to follow through on the deal they made years ago; if they’re both single at 28 they’ll get married.
Instead, he lets her know he is getting married, but to Kim, a 20 year old heiress to a billionaire.
Now Jules has just four days to tell Michael how she feels; that she still loves him, and wants him to marry her instead.
Direction
I quite liked the directing by PJ Hogan, and there are some great moments in the film as there are some ‘comedic action’ in a car chase sequence, as well as some sound use of the deep focus shot.
Cast/Characters
Julia Roberts plays Jules and it’s clear why she was Hollywood’s ‘it’ girl/woman for so long. She is both adorable, and endearing in her performance. Jules is both confident, and almost apathetic in her self absorption. Roberts is also great at the physical comedy needed to pull off the role too, and I don’t think anyone else could have played Jules quite so well.
Dermot Mulroney is sound as Michael, but if I’m being honest he could have been swapped out with any age appropriate actor from the mid to late 90’s and it still would have been effective. This feels more of a female led film, which is great to see.
Cameron Diaz is equally as impressive as Kimmy, and I think the role is made just for her. Her idiosyncrasies such as Kimmy’s ‘excitability’ and that “brilliant” rendition of “I Just Don’t Know What to do With Myself” could only have been done by a small handful of gifted comedienne’s like Diaz.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
Music is a big theme of the film, with the adorable opening credits (a rendition of Wishin’ and Hopin’, and a few key scenes in which characters sing more Dione Warwick songs to one another like Kimmy’s adorable off key Don’t Know What to do with myself, and the brilliant restaurant scene with Say a little prayer. James Newton Howard even scored himself (no pun intended) an Oscar nod for his score.
Julia does at times become almost an antagonist, with her scheming and manipulation of trying to break up Michael and Kimmy, and because this is a ‘Hollywood’ film we’re supposed to root for her. This makes the ‘non conformative’ ending even better (spoiler, Michael marries Kimmy and Julia learns to be happy with what she has… herself).
Love is obviously a key theme, with Jules having certainty that her love for him trumps Kimmy’s, but Kimmy’s is clearly the winner as Michael loves Kimmy as a future wife, and loves Jules as his friend only.
Overall
Very cute mid-late 90s rom com, is only assisted further by the brilliant performance by lead Roberts and the supporting cast. Love her or hate her she is able to hold her own as a leading lady – and has the comedic chops to pull it off.
With a “non conventional Hollywood” ending, that actually works, this makes it an even better overall narrative.
A strong recommend.
4/5