LICENSE TO DREAD
Written: Jul 05 '07 (Updated Jul 06 '07)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: It ended
Cons: Script, characterization
The Bottom Line: If you have to see this film, wait until it comes out on television
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| mike.holmes's Full Review: License to Wed |
"License To Wed" reminds me of a Mel Brooks film that was supposed to be a comedy: "Life Stinks" from 1991. My daughter who was 13 at the time warned me that "Life Stinks" appeared to be the movie in which every funny scene was shown in the trailer. Ditto for "License To Wed."
Unfortunately, when the scenes from the trailer appear in the film, they are not that funny. To say I was sorely disappointed in the movie is an understatement. I know that every film that Robin Williams is in is not a winner, but this movie was terrible from the opening scenes. To think that an actor of Williams' talent (see "Good Will Hunting", "Good Morning Viet Nam", "The Fisher King", "Mrs. Doubtfire") could be so wasted is a travesty.
THE PLOT
The plot is not complicated. We meet a young couple, Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore-"A Walk To Remember") and Ben Murphy (John Krasinski-"The Office") who meet, fall quickly in love, move in together and decide to get married. This all occurs in the first 60 seconds to the film. Well, not quite that fast but this scenario sets up the "real" story here which is that Sadie and Ben are going to get married in Sadie's childhood church with the ceremony being presided over by Reverend Frank (Robin Williams). That being the case, Reverend Frank tells the blissful couple that they must first take his "marriage" course.
What ensues is supposed to be funny. The "marriage" course aims to build the communication skills of the newly weds. There are a series of "tests" that the Rev puts them through that more closely resemble a course in "How to Hate the One You Love." The couple is given a pair of robotic twin infants that remind me of "the children from hell." The couple is supposed to talk to Reverend Frank about what they want most sexually from their partner. And, worst of all, Ben is told that he has to verbally guide Sadie through a crowded downtown street while she is blindfolded.
If you saw the trailer, most of these scenes were present. Context, instead of improving the situation, makes the film far worse.
To add to the misery of the setting, Reverend Frank is aided and abetted by a strange young man, credited as "Choir Boy" (Josh Flitter) who helps the Reverend in all of his devious plans to "test" the loving couple. The boy is asked to perform tasks thta equal first degree felonies, but it's all in the name of comedy.
And then there's Sadie's rich, spoiled family. Her father (Peter Strauss) is a rather pompous man (Ben's description). Her mother (Roxanne Hart) is a colorless character. Her sister, Lindsey (Christine Taylor-"Dodgeball") is newly divorced and generally only thinks of herself. In short, none of these characters are in the least likable.
Sadie herself depends on a childhood friend by the name of Carlisle (Eric Olsen-"The Last Kiss") who provides nothing by fluff until a speech toward the end of the film when he suddenly turns into a pop psychologist.
We barely meet Ben's parents but we are shown numerous scenes with Ben's best friend, Joel (DeRay Davis) who is a walking advertisement for why not to get married.
WHY I DIDN'T LIKE THIS MOVIE
I'm generally a very positive person about movies. I find it impossible to be positive concerning this film. In the first place, although the theater was not all that crowded, I heard almost no laughter. Nor did I laugh more than once or twice myself. This was supposed to be a comedy (or so I thought.)
Secondly, the character portrayed by Robin Williams is not in the least likable. He is a sadistic, unduly prying, cruel man. It is possible that his reverend character is a parody of preachers but it's a bad parody.
Third, although not always true, Robin Williams is at his best when he is allowed to improvise. I felt from the word "go" here that Williams was tied to a script that he didn't like.
Fourth, although "Reverend" Frank puts the couple through the "course from hell", we are supposed to believe that he is really a very caring, useful man at the end of the film. Hogwash.
What life is in the film is provided by Krasinski who managed to inject what little comedy there is into a few scenes.
Finally, the sad truth about this movie is that the funniest part is shown in "outtakes" as the credits roll.
Who's to blame for this mess? Ultimately, the faults lies with Director Ken Kwapis who has done some good work in "Sisterhood Of The Travelings Pants" and "The Office." Here, however, he directs a film that delivers a sour message. More blame has to be assigned to apparent first time script writers Kim Barker and Tim Rasmussen. One or two laughs in a film starring Robin Williams is simply not acceptable.
Sad. TWO STARS
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: None of the Above
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Script
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Epinions.com ID:
mike.holmes
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Member: Mike Holmes
Location: Odessa, Texas
Reviews written: 1262
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About Me:
TO HONOR TED KENNEDY, CONGRESS SHOULD PASS A MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE BILL
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