As you may have noticed, the OurWeddingDay team is a little wedding crazy. That’s why when we saw the first previews for the Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson helmed flick Bride Wars, we knew that we had to see it. So, opening night, two members the OWD team took to the theaters to catch one of the first showings of the film (as if we don’t spend enough time during the workweek thinking about weddings). Here are their reviews:
Alexis's Take:
I love a good comedy. Never Been Kissed? Check! Clueless? Check! Bride Wars? Check!!! For me, going into a movie like this is all about expectations. For example, when I went to see Slumdog Millionaire (which was amazing if you haven't seen it yet), I went in expecting a great film that was brilliantly directed with a compelling story. With Bride Wars, I went in expecting some great laughs and mindless comedy. And I got just that.
Truth be told the stunts and ploys Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson pull on each other are truly despicable. Would real brides-to-be ever dare to turn their friend's spray tan into a Sunny D-esque glow, or dye her hair blue? These girls are totally cruel, and I mean down in your soul bad people. Who tackles another girl as she walks down the aisle?? It hurts just thinking about it!
Aside from all of this, I have to admit I laughed just as hard when Hathaway took down Hudson. I just couldn't help myself. True the movie somewhat degrades the wedding planning process and the supposed "Bridezillas" that women become, but this is Hollywood, where everything is an exaggerated version of itself.
I would definitely recommend going to see Bride Wars if you're in the right frame of mind -- in need of some comedy, willing to be able to laugh at mean people (which I, admittedly, certainly can), and armed with some chocolate and a soda to wash down the bitterness and hatred these girls throw out over the course of an hour and a half.
Jake’s Take:
I, admittedly, first fell in love with Anne Hathaway when I saw her in The Princess Diaries. Somehow, Disney managed to let her get away, and she didn’t get caught in the thralls of the mouse machine. Anne was actually able to branch out and make a name for herself! That’s why I was more than a little surprised to see her step back into this type of movie.
Kate Hudson, on the other hand, has never really done that much for me. How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days was funny, but I can think of a handful of other actresses who could have played that role, and probably done a better job at it. Despite my personal feelings towards her, I had hoped she could play this role and at least turn out something fun.
I went into Bride Wars with very low expectations. Before leaving work that day, it had a mere 6% approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com, which may be a tough group of critics but nonetheless never a good sign. I figured that if I could find brilliance in The House Bunny, I would for sure be able to find something to savor in Bride Wars. However, the Hathaway/Hudson venture was not the torturous process that many reviewers had led me to believe it would be, I found myself actually enjoying Bride Wars quite a bit. Not for the reasons you may expect though.
I felt that both of the lead characters were not people that I would ever want to be friends with. Everyone knows how important a wedding day is, but it's never more important than a lifelong friendship. Although the movie eventually gets to this obvious conclusion, it takes these characters way too long to come to this realization. It doesn’t strike me as convincingly realistic.
Somehow though, I still found myself able to enjoy the train wreck that was unfolding in front of my eyes. I couldn’t help but get sucked up into these two unlikeable characters’ lives and craving to see how things would unfold!
The shining star, in this movie full of uncomfortable character moments, was 3rd Rock From the Sun alum Kristin Johnston. Her lines were golden, her character completely hopeless, and Kristin played her perfectly. Out of all the women in this movie, she is who I feel won the Bride War.
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