It might not be altogether original, but Wedding Crashers is funny as hell. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn have such on screen chemistry, they play off each other exceptionally well, turning not so funny scenes into classic memories in this wedding crashing romp that moves from the chapels of Washington, D.C. to the Maryland Eastern Shore as the usual political city gets a taste of true comedy.
Wedding Crashers centers on our two “crashers” John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn). We are first introduced to the boys as they are in the middle of a divorce mediation and this is where you see just what these guys are all about. Best friends and business partners, John and Jeremy have their own opinion on marriage and once you are rid of the particulars a wedding is just one big party whether you are invited or not.
No one is safe as the two crash Jewish, Italian, Chinese, Irish and Hindu weddings all with their own flair and with spectacular success, it isn’t until Jeremy learns that a daughter of Treasury Secretary William Cleary (Christopher Walken) is getting hitched that a true challenge is brought to the table.
Once at the high profile wedding the rules of Wedding Crashing 101 go out the window as John is swept off his feet by Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams) and who wouldn’t be as McAdams looks absolutely stunning with her new brunette locks as compared to the blonde she sported in Mean Girls and The Notebook. Meanwhile, Jeremy is off hooking up, and by hooking up, I mean hooking up *wink* *wink*, with another one of the Cleary daughters, Gloria (Isla Fisher), but this one is a bit more unstable.
Gloria is beside herself after she and Jeremy finish their business at a nearby beach, and proclaims to Jeremy, “I always knew my first time would be on a beach.” Whoops, Stage 5 Clinger! Gotta leave! Unfortunately John has his own agenda to tend to, which takes the lie a bit further and off to the Cleary family’s waterfront estate where the fireworks really get started.
For those looking for a wild romp, this is the place to be as Wedding Crashers deserves its R-rating and takes full advantage. This is American Pie for one age group up as the comedy is rude and crude without the poop and fart jokes.
Vince Vaughn gives his all and it is well appreciated as he carries the full load of humor as Owen Wilson sets up the opportunities and he spikes down hard with each and every one. Christopher Walken’s performance is great, as always, providing bits of the Walken humor we have come to love along with playing the understanding father. The real shocker is the work of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Jane Seymour, as she can’t keep her hands off the bottle or John Beckwith for that matter. Seymour turns in a risky performance and it pays off with loads of laughs.
In the end the payoff of this film is just what you would expect, but the humor along the way more than makes up for the run-of-the-mill ending. Wedding Crashers is a comedy in its truest form and despite its raunchy nature this is a movie adults as well as teenagers are going to enjoy, that is if you can break down any PC barriers you may have.
