What the Flick

In their day jobs, John (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) mediate nasty divorces in Washington, DC, leading to career-derived cynicism about love and marriage. They gleefully comb the papers for weddings that seem likely to feature tasty canapes, copious open bars, and young women guests primed for romance by the gauzy emotions that surround the ceremony. And this being a movie, their ploy works more often than not. They sport false names and resumes, make nice with the crazy old aunts and cute little kids, dance with the bride, and work the room like pros, hoping to end the evening with a bridesmaid or cousin in a friendly one night stand. All goes swimmingly until Jeremy convinces a reluctant John to attend a late-season wedding blow-out: the very formal marriage of the daughter of the Secretary of the Treasury (Christopher Walken). Before it's over, there is a proposition from the bride's mother (Jane Seymour), a dalliance with one of the bride's sisters, a trip to Maryland's eastern shore for some family hijinks, and a proposal on John's mind. Much extreme silliness ensues, and both guys' lives are upended forever. In short, real love is in the air and has knocked the wind of their little schtick.

Whether or not this sounds amusing on paper, in practice it is hugely funny. The story here is largely nonsensical and mostly unbelievable, but none of that detracts from the sheer enjoyment the movie provides. Vince Vaughn is a big, goofy, lovable physical presence whose whole body goes into his comedy. The script and situations are comical (and a bit racy), but his delivery takes it to another level. And Owen Wilson is always adorable, here playing the laconic straight man to Vaughn's fast-talking scammer. The whole cast works well together, and the actress Isla Fisher who plays Gloria, Jeremy's foil, is a real find. I had trouble with Zack (Bradley Cooper), John's competition for the heart of the sweet, brainy Claire (Rachel McAdams), because Zack just seemed too mean for Claire ever to have loved. But I am happy to see Bradley Cooper on the big screen, having missed him since Will went into witness protection on ALIAS!

It's no wonder this movie has been at or near the top of the box office since it arrived -- no clones, no explosions, no aliens, no evil, just 2 hours of good, bawdy, not-appropriate-for-kids fun!