Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 2; Summer, 2005

7/19/05

Films Reviewed: Wedding Crashers and Bewitched

Commentary: Cinematic Weddings

Featurette: The Emperor of the Star Wars Universe

Regarding Wedding Crashers:

Matt: The first half hour is very funny. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are a laugh riot as they crash weddings to pick up loose women.  Then things turn ugly when they crash a wedding held by the secretary of finance (Christopher Walken) and his very dysfunctional family, with every stereotype known to man played for a joke.  And from that point, the film left a bad taste in my mouth.  I can't recommend it.  Two stars. 

Aron: Well, I felt that the dysfunctional family was very funny.  Each member of that family brought out the laughs, especially Isla Fisher as the nymphomaniac younger daughter (Matt: "Yes, she was funny").  It's a ribald, adult comedy that only aspires to make us all laugh, which I did.  Quite a bit.  Three stars from me.

Average Rating: **1/2 (out of ****)

Regarding Bewitched:

Aron: Now this is the way to make a movie based on an old TV show!  Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman are very good as actors portraying actors portraying Darrin and Samantha Stephens.  And Nicole's character is actually a real witch!  This movie is a lot of fun and an example for other movies based on TV shows (should any more really need to be made).  Three stars.

Matt: I agree with Aron on the concept.  And I agree with Aron on the actors.  However, Michael Caine (in the "Maurice" role) and Shirley MacLaine (in the "Endora" role) are given very little to do and too many of the jokes fall flat on their face.  There is real movie magic here, but another rewrite by someone other than Nora Ephron would have helped this film loads.  Two stars, sadly.

Average Rating: **1/2 (out of ****)

Commentary: Which movie wedding would you rather attend?  Aron and Matt debated over this question by citing many examples, from Four Weddings and a Funeral to The Godfather to The Princess Bride and many more in between.

Featurette: Meeting Palpatine, from Star Wars