Four Weddings and Funeral

Four Weddings and a Funeral directed by Mike Newell written by Richard Curtis, staring Hugh Grant, Andie McDowell, Kristen Scott Thomas, John Hannah, and Mr. Bean himself Rowan Atkinson.

I never saw this film when it came out, but I remember it being touted as the best British film of all time or one of the best British movies of the new era. I never really bought into that before and after seeing Trainspotting this movie had a lot to live up. It’s not the best British movie ever or of the new era of British films.  But to tag it that is do the movie a disservice because it’s a good movie on its own right and should be judged on that and that alone. If anything I would call this movie the British version of When Harry met Sally because the similarities between these two movies have more in common than being labeled the best British films of all time or of the new era and then compared with those films. 

The one thing that works remarkable well with this film is the frame work (as the title tells): there’s four wedding and one funeral that bring the whole cast together over the spans of months (for three weddings and one funeral) then I think it’s year(s) for the fourth wedding. It’s this frame work that makes it very similar to When Harry met Sally.  But where When Harry met Sally spans decades this movie spans months and I think a few years. 

Richard Curtis does a remarkable job with the screenplay as he presents a certain group of friends that meet for the title occasions and it’s through the occasions that we get to know them as individuals and as characters. It’s a unique device (this framework) to use and works extremely well. We don’t get to fully know these friends but we get enough scenes with them that some rough characteristics and character developments can be judged from those few scenes. And Curtis makes each of those friends’ unique characteristics on their rights that they are easily identifiable. If you don’t know who Richard Curtis is he’s the guy who helped write Black Adder and wrote Notting Hill.  So knowing that you'll know what kind of comedy you're in for if you watch this movie.  Also his movie screenplays over the years explore the word "love" and relationships a lot that's just something I think he's really interested in. 

There are a lot of laugh out loud funny scenes in this movie that alone are worth watching for.  The best one being Rowan Atkinson conducting a marriage ceremony for the first time, where his nerves get the better of him and along with that Curtis gives a lot of in the wrong place at the wrong time or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time scenes that are truly hilarious. A lot of times the dialogue flies fast and furious, which is something Curtis is known for, and he doesn’t disappoint here, so you’ve got to pay attention when people are talking. It’s a good little romantic comedy as it showcases some things Curtis has become fascinated with over the years in his other movie namely: love, relationships, and marriage. The questions he asks about all of those are worth diving into.