Bride Wars
BY Ryan LaMarca / 2009-06-14
The first few weeks of January have a notorious reputation for being the time when studios release some of their weakest films to theaters in an attempt to just get rid of them. I can think of no better explanation for "Bride Wars," another standard romantic comedy that this time features Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as battling bridezillas to see who can ruin each other's wedding faster. It's a bad film, that's for sure, but at least it was nowhere as despicable or insidious as I was dreading it to be.
Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Liv (Kate Hudson) have been best friends forever, and their dream is to one day have both of their weddings at the Plaza Hotel which both girls have been infatuated with all of their lives. As luck would have it, they both get engaged at the same time, but there are only a few spots open at said dream hotel. With the help of Marion St. Claire (Candice Bergen), one of New York's most prestigious wedding planners, they get their dates set. However, only later do they realize that a mistake was made and their weddings were scheduled for the same day. With only weeks to spare, Emma and Liv are out to try and make each other's lives a nightmare so one of them can get the hotel to herself.
What keeps "Bride Wars" from being totally unbearable are the charismatic performances by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. I was actually quite surprised at how well these two actresses played off each other, especially Hudson, who is actually sometimes funny in the movie. However, even though "Bride Wars" has a few good laughs, a cute premise, and some solid leading ladies, it is still incredibly tedious and boring.
Anyway, there's only so much you can do with this limited concept. The only high points in the film are when Hudson and Hathaway are battling each other in their cat-like ways. One dyes the other's hair blue, the other makes her tanning go haywire, et cetera, et cetera. But this only lasts so long. Then it's back to whining and moping about how they're at odds with one another and how they're weddings are getting wrecked. But honestly, you'd think that if they were really such great friends they wouldn't be doing this to one another. How can they go their whole lives being best friends and then suddenly turn on each other like this? It really doesn't make any kind of sense or send a good message for that matter.
When it shifts out of battle mode, "Bride Wars" does become painfully boring and dull. Do we really care about Hudson's work place drama? And anything remotely dealing with characters becomes a complete rom-com cliché extravaganza. I guess they're supposed to have clashing personalities, but in the end, Hudson and Hathaway are almost the exact same person, and each could be substituted for the other. Hudson is written as the go-getter, and Hathaway the passive push-over. Great combination for best friends, right? There are several supporting characters, as well, who have quirky traits and habits, but they're all really annoying when you think about it.
The film, as well, then becomes very sappy and mushy, as all of these romantic comedies end up doing. "Bride Wars" is predictable, but I'm probably making it out to be worse than it really is. Regardless, you basically know how everything is going to turn out in the end, and nothing is really even worth mentioning. Other than that, I can't help but feel that all I need to say is to stay away from "Bride Wars." I watched it, and then I didn't even need to give it a second thought. It's more just like a throwaway film that I guess there's a market for.
As far as comedies of this style, or for that matter, Kate Hudson movies, go, "Bride Wars" isn't exactly the worst thing I've ever seen, but neither is it anything I'd ever recommend to any living soul, male or female. At least, not if I liked them. Perhaps there is an audience for this film, but I am glad I am not in it. "Bride Wars" has its moments, but a few quick laughs and some decent performances aren't nearly enough to save this awful train wreck of a film.
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