A holiday rom-com guide
These cool months usher in the Philippine wedding season, so expect a smattering of anniversary celebrations and nuptials. But whether you are newly uncoupled, a long-time singleton, or satisfactorily snagged, let these romantic comedies rekindle your faith in happily-ever-afters.
“Mamma Mia!: The Movie”
Rating: ***
The promise of seeing Pierce Brosnan in less-than-debonair digs got me over the icky sensation that I was about to watch a musical. That, and finally putting to rest my dad’s nonstop haranguing over how hilarious “Mamma Mia!: The Movie” is.
Soon-to-be-married Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) lives on a small Greek island with her hippie mom Donna (Meryl Streep). She’s never met her father, so when Sophie stumbles upon Donna’s diary and discovers her three possible dads (Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård), she invites them to her wedding. They all arrive unaware of her designs; they are drawn by fond memories of their relationships with Donna. Hit songs by the ’70s Swedish group Abba provide the soundtrack and the storyline.
Streep is a surprise with her emotionally charged singing and sprightly steps, especially in the bittersweet sequence “The Winner Takes It All.” Her friends (Christine Baranski and Julie Walters) are able sidekicks and provide most of the laughs. Seyfried is initially unimpressive, but either she’s the beauty that grows on you or her makeup and wardrobe just kept improving as the movie progressed. Her character is so infectiously optimistic and confidently carefree that it’s difficult not to share in her excitement. The talented Dominic Cooper (“History Boys”) plays Sophie’s fiancé, Sky; he stands out despite the tiny role. The rest of the cast is silly, just as tacky as it all should be.
Hearing Brosnan burst into song is a bit awkward (God is fair!), but he is perfect for the role of the dashingly handsome architect Sam. Firth is adorable as the head-banging rocker turned staid banker Harry Bright, while Skarsgård is delightfully unpretentious.
The many production numbers are painful to watch (for a musical-averse me), but giving in to the kitsch will alleviate the pain. “Mamma Mia!” will be most appreciated by baby boomers. In a country where weddings are a family affair, it might strike a chord with its heartwarming, chaotic family dynamics.
“License to Wed”
Rating: **
As expected of most (if not all) Mandy Moore movies, “License to Wed” is on the verge of barf-worthy. This, despite Robin Williams’ antics, his pint-sized sidekick, and a good number of “The Office” cast to support veteran sitcom and romcom director Ken Kwapis.
It is challenging to like any of the characters, which makes it equally hard to buy the ridiculous storyline of such an invasive pastor (Williams) seemingly bent on testing the love of newly engaged Sadie and Ben (Moore and John Krasinski). As a Filipino viewer, this felt strangely familiar, reminiscent of my pre-Cana wedding prep. There isn’t enough material and depth for even the lead characters to connect with the audience, despite a universal concept such as getting hitched.
It’s a pain to analyze what is meant to be a light comedy but it just feels like a rip-off. For instance, when the pastor asks Ben why he would like to marry Sadie, he says, “Because she’s beautiful and organized … ”—but Sadie is incredibly annoying throughout the movie. Only Ben is sensitively portrayed despite his iffy reasons for choosing Sadie. The material for the rest of the supporting cast is achingly flat—a shame, because they would’ve been able to really “do their stuff” had they been given better lines.
“What Happens in Vegas”
Rating: ****
Why have they not teamed up sooner? It’s a rarity: two ridiculously hot but likable people with such excellent comic timing.
Recently dumped Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) is a planaholic who meets and marries unemployed Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) in a random Vegas vacay. They agree to divorce but then, they win $3 million before they can. For them to be able to keep the money, however, a conservative judge (Dennis Miller) forces the two to make their marriage work for six months.
The expected bickering and one-upmanship ensues but the audience eagerly goes along, because when Diaz and Kutcher are funny, they’re hilarious, and when it’s time for the romance portion of the deal, the ex-models transition very easily because they’re not only gorgeous, they also have chemistry.
But Diaz and Kutcher are only able to make “What Happens in Vegas” work because of the darn good writing from Dana Fox (“The Wedding Date”). They also get reliable support from costars Lake Bell and Rob Corddry, who play their best friends Tipper and Hater, and “Saturday Night Live” writer Jason Sudeikis, who plays Joy’s hateful ex-fiancé Mason with marvelous subtlety.
Romantic comedies must be a pain to write because their formula is already familiar to the audience. However, “What Happens in Vegas,” for all its banality, is one of the funniest rom-coms to have come our way in recent years.
“27 Dresses”
Rating: ****
This chick flick is decently funny, just what a romantic comedy should be! Katherine Heigl plays the ever-reliable plain Jane in “27 Dresses.” She stands out from the run-of-the-mill rom-com female leads because she doesn’t overact, seems real, and is comfortable with her beauty. And, she can pull off the right facial expressions with perfect timing.
Director Anne Fletcher has a cameo as Rude Taxi Stealer, and she reaches deep into her choreographer roots to orchestrate the cast fairly well. Edward Burns (who sadly is losing his hotness) plays Jane’s boss and object of affection, George. Malin Akerman faithfully plays Jane’s flighty sister Tess, and the strangely versatile James Marsden plays writer Kevin Doyle. Familiar TV staples up the likability factor: ever the scene-stealer Judy Greer plays Jane’s best friend, and Melora Hardin does the tough lady boss act again.
A good deal of the dialogue also saves the movie from mediocrity. Writer Aline Brosh McKenna tweaked the formulaic genre to make it edgier and more interesting by throwing in witty lines at unexpected points in the movie. All in all, a cute, enjoyable flick.
Whether you’re pining for a heartfelt singalong, a chaotic Vegas romp, or just some escapist humor, these rom-coms offer something for everyone this season of love. They’re worth a watch if you’re in the mood for lighthearted fun, but don’t expect depth.
