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BRIDE WARS

Starring: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Johnson and Candice Bergan

Directed by: Gary Winick

Rated PG for suggestive content, language and some rude behavior

By John Delia

I did not care very much for Bride Wars, but since it was targeted to women, that may be one of the reasons. Much like Sex and the City, Muriel’s Wedding or The Devil Wears Prada just to name a few, Bride Wars was too girly for me. I did like some of the humor, but for most men, even those on a date, there isn’t enough laughs to hold off the 90-minute wave of exploding female hormones. But you know what, your date will probably find the film funny and be able to relate, so hang in there for the after fun if you play your cards right.
WARNING: Do not see the advance trailer to this movie; there are way too many spoilers that take a lot of fun out of it.
The film finds long time friends Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) getting engaged after some creative coaxing. The men in their life are just pawns to their fantasies of being married in the month of June at The Plaza Hotel in New York. Being well endowed with the cash factor, the two go to the most well known wedding planners in the city (Bergan) so their day will be the envy of all their mutual friends. The two are in luck as there are three dates in June available at The Plaza, two on the 6th and one on the 27th. Liv chooses the 6th because that was her deceased parent’s anniversary, while Emma is very comfortable with the later date in June. When the booking secretary makes a mistake and locks in both on the same day, the bride wars begin.
While it is inconceivable that this could happen with any wedding planner, and especially the best in the city, we must realize that this is a movie and it’s all in fun so get over that point early. However, there are other problems that taint the otherwise intriguing premise that include the chemistry between the two main actors, Hudson’s weak performance, and a repetitious confined predictable plot that just doesn’t seem to please. I blame it on two factors; there were too many fingers in the wedding cake and the direction of the film should have been much tighter and controlled.
The screenplay was written by Greg Depaul (originator of the theme plot), June Diane Raphael (wrote mainly for theatre) and Casey Wilson (known more as an actress). Therein is a recipe for disaster with stage like sets, curtain closing scenes and insignificant support characters that never seem to mean anything to the storyline. As far as direction goes, Hudson’s character was not very strong in the face of the war between the two as Hathaway’s character was totally domineering from start to finish. It wasn’t a war at all, just a squabble that never seem to end.
As for any good the film has; the bride costuming magnificent, the make-up significant (especially the tanning scene and the blue hair) and the choreography of the banter between the two, well done.
The film is rated PG due to some suggestive content, language and rude behavior so other than letting your kids watch two bratty rich kids go at it, there’s not much to keep anyone away.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Bride Wars is just a skirmish between two bratty friends. (2 Palm Trees of 5)