The Wedding Planner

Happy New Year everyone! To start off the year, I will look at all the romantic comedies that Matthew McConaughey starred in. Let’s kick off the month with the 2001 comedy, “The Wedding Planner.”

When casting a nice comedy, the hot Spanish singer Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey would probably be the last two people to actually think of. However, in Adam Shankman’s “The Wedding Planner” this decision was actually best. Steve Rhodes said in his review, “A good-spirited, romantic comedy with an almost child-like innocence, the movie sweeps you off your feet and puts you in the mood for laughter and love.”

Rhodes noted, “The frequently inspired script is by Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis -- a pair of love birds, according to the press kit, whose relationship did not survive the many years it took to get the script produced.” “The Wedding Planner” is a film that’s easy to love, but, like the writers’ romance, the relationship gets difficult. After an amazingly successful first half, the romantic comedy runs out of humor, leaving the love story to be a part of the second part. However, what happens is that the film is at its most romantic exactly when it’s the funniest.

Mary Fiore, played by Jennifer Lopez, is the wedding planner. Rhodes said, “An anal-retentive who alphabetizes her credit cards, Mary laments that "Those who can't do, teach, and those who can't wed, plan."” However, she is a planner average excellence, running weddings with funny, military accuracy. “Cover me. The FOB is MIA,” she yells to her assistant, Penny, played by Judy Greer, over her wireless microphone. (Translation: The Father of the bride is missing.)

After Dr. Steve Edison, played by Matthew McConaughey, Mary’s love interest rescues her from a dumpster, it’s love at first site. However, there is a little issue. Steve is actually the groom of her high profile new client, Fran Donolly, played by the hot Bridgette Wilson-Sampras. To add on top of this trouble, Mary’s father (Alex Rocco) introduces her to Massimo Lanzetta (Justin Chambers), her newly arranged husband-to-be. Rhodes said, “The last time Mary saw Massimo, he was a mud-munching little kid in Sicily. Judging from his accent, he just got off the boat.”

The chemistry between the controlling wedding planner and the more relaxed pediatrician is wonderful. They make sparks on the screen even though their relationship is restricted to a single kiss.

The movie is easily one of the softest PG-13 films in some time. Rhodes noted, “Save a reference to a female organ and an innocent and sweetly funny scene involving a male nude statue, the movie would have been at most PG.” “The Wedding Planner” is a comedy that leaves you with a good feeling instead of making you sick to your stomach. Imagine that. It’s no surprise that some of the memorable scenes happen while an old film is playing in the background. In many ways, “The Wedding Planner” is a delightful throwback to a nicer time at the theaters. However, the film never feels dated. It’s a firework of a date movie and good family film on top of that.

In the end, if you haven’t seen this film, and you’re a fan of Matthew McConaughey in romantic roles, this is the film for you. It’s one of the funniest romantic films and you will enjoy yourself from first minute to last. Definitely check this one out if you haven’t because you will have a good laugh when watching it.

Tune in next week when we look at an even funnier film in “Matthew McConaughey Romantic Comedy Month.”