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July 18, 2005
RUTHERFORD ON FILM
'Wedding Crashers': Naughty, Sexist, But Balances Male Chauvinism with out of Control Hormones
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
Huntington, WV (HNN)--- Who's taking advantage of whom? After you've watched one-third of the comedy about two irresponsible young legal mediators who seduce single women by showing up uninvited at weddings, a light popped on in my head: At least the eager ladies of "Wedding Crashers" have high libidos too.
The R-rated adult romp (and I do mean its not for young tykes no matter how much they beg) turns a politically elite blue-blood family into flakes on a crude eccentricity scale somewhere between those frat members of "Animal House" and the quirky borders of "You Can't Take It With You." It's the preponderance of non-politically correct offspring that lays a cracked canvas for the out-of-hand amorous activities.
Blond curly haired Owen ("Meet the Fockers," "Meet The Parents," "Zoolander," "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou") Wilson teams with Vince ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "Anchorman") Vaughn, as marital mediators who cynically cajole feuding couples into burying their hatred long enough to split the proceeds. Believing that 'marriage' as an institution has outlived its usefulness, the duo spend their weekends scheming their way into "I Do" ceremonies of people they don't know.
Masters of glib gab, they interchangeably toss one-liners or confuse the inquirer when a 'which side of the family are you on' tall tale starts unraveling. If Wilson's caught in 'but Aunt Blanche died a month ago' reality, Vaughn turns on the tears and responds that 'we really can't believe she's passed.'
The sexist pranksters then encounter a challenge --- a "Kentucky Derby of Weddings --- A big bucks D.C. power society affair where the daughter of the Treasury Secretary exchanges her vows.
Vaughn captures early kudos with his machine gun banter on the perils of single hood and coupling. The mischievous, energy filled Wilson slyly agitates his fellow man of many names colleague into the super bowl of excess pleasure until their icy hearts thaw as Wilson falls for Claire (Rachael McAdams) and Vaughn eagerly takes her younger sister Gloria (Isla Fisher) out for a little sexual fun on the beach.
Once the pair infiltrates the Secretary's family unit, the flick blows up Category IV, hurricane like gleeful complications. Pouncing like a blood thirsty shark upon family's strait-jacket worthy list of eccentricities, the pendulum swings away from humor solely derived from male jerks mixing with cavorting single ladies who've lost their inhibitions courtesy of romantic fantasies and too much wine. Carefully tossing a few cracks about women's raging hormones, the chicks too find themselves enjoying the gutter relays without annoyance at flashes of (horror of horrors!) bare breasts!
Grandma's (Jane Seymour) foul mouthed, straight shooting, innuendo filled lines combine with mounting behavioral skeletons. Needless to conjecture, before Granny can be silenced, the Secretary's wife will boast of her new plastic, his young daughter will imitate the clinging passion of a day-after I lost my virginity ingénue, and his son will to no one's surprise come out of the closet (both figuratively and literally).
Although touch football and quail hunting manly traditions scenes wrestle chuckles, "Crashers" nearly flat lines during meant-to-be really romantic sequences. Despite mastery of the offensive comedic formula, director David Dobkin has difficulty establishing the solemnity of love and the agony of heartbreak. These portions muster no tears and only create chug-holes on the superhighway of slickly timed bits and gimmicks.
Interestingly, while "Wedding Crashers" does dabble and dribble into provocative sexually themed circumstances, the tone remains light-hearted, rather than one with repeated sensually provocative scenes like "Basic Instinct," "Body Heat," or "Nine ˝ Weeks" Instead, the tone remains in the "There's Something About Mary" and "Girl Next Door" category, even when several starkly suggestive lines might bring on slightly beet red blushes.
And, for those viewers who applaud the new Frat Packers --- Chris Farley, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and their obnoxious new age comedies --- will find that Vaughn/Wilson team make beautiful chemistry, as each capably and credibly seamlessly saunter from straight man to one-liner stooge. Meanwhile, the supporting cast, particularly Christopher Walken as the Treasury Secretary; naughty "stage five virgin clinger" Isla Fisher; and blatant bad boy womanizer Bradley Cooper ensure that mad moments maintain a ream of sensibility.
