Let's be realistic.

I really don't get the hype.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Raif (Rupert Hound) has returned from being a perpetual vagabond to be the best man at his brother's wedding. Tim (Robert Webb), the groom, is glad his brother has arrived but is not too sure about the gift Raif proposes. It's his bro's dream, you see, to videotape the days up to the wedding fro this sibling as a one-of-a-kind momento. Alas, there is a sticky wicket almost immediately, as Tim tells Raif his intended is Saskia (Lucy Punch). Raif is astonished, as Saskia went to his school and was something of a wild child. But, her mother Alex (Harriet Walter) has married extremely well and has "re-invented" both of their lives. Now, Saskia presents a persona of rationality, staidness, and wealth. As Tim has also risen to become a rich businessman, the two now seem perfect. But, are they? As Raif films the couple from the wedding gala to the wedding dance instruction to visits with the uptight wedding planner, is Saskia truly in love with Tim? Or, is her heart still yearning for someone else? This very nice British romcom has a great cast. Punch, who was a scream in Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, is quite fine as the reformed free spirit while Webb and Hound are great as the opposite leaning sibs. Walter does a quietly harried turn as the newly rich woman trying to plan a high society wedding and the rest of the cast is great, too. There are a bevy of comic scenes, as the one in which a society bride, whose wedding was to be the season event, ends up riding her party-ship into the ice sculpture. As noted, its Icebergs 2, Titanic 0. Also mirthful is the episode with the snooty Russian choreographer who has been hired to teach the couple a wedding dance or two. Costumes, sets, the lively script, and the zesty direction make for a vastly fun film. Again, Hollywood why have you forgotten women or fans of romantic comedy? Must we now go to Britain to view something we like? It appears so. As I found this in the DVD store, there is a happy ending but I long for romcoms to actually make it back to the theaters across the land.

Why this movie gets such angry reviews is a mystery to me. It's no way an innovative story and has no daring Hangover jokes but it's absolutely entertaining. The comic moments are delivered well but it stays a little on the timid side. It could have had more of an edge and there is a tendency to have rather great moments end in a bit of an anti climax. Lucy Punch is great as the former wild girl getting married. She has a unique quirky style that you either love or not at all; that was obviously the risk to leave the leading role to her. If this movie doesn't suit you this might be why but there is nothing wrong with either the acting performance or the script.

I saw the trailer for this film, I may have misjudged it for looking terrible, but actually it was rated not too badly by most of the critics, and obviously there were some good names in the all British cast, and even if it was going to turn out cheesy I was prepared for that, from director Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls). Basically Raif (Celebrity Juice's Rufus Hound) is a shambolic oaf with an alternative sense of humour, and he has been chosen as best man for the wedding of his brother Tim (Peep Show's Robert Webb) and his girlfriend Saskia (Lucy Punch). His wedding present to them is a wedding video that he is filming himself, along with his fellow cameraman Roger (Matt Berry), so almost the entire film is from his camera's point of view starting from while all the ceremony preparations are going ahead, right up until the wedding day and reception. As everything is getting ready, we see that Tim is marrying into a higher class lifestyle, Saskia has a hideous upper-class grandmother Patricia (Miriam Margolyes) who has particular tastes, and the bride's mother is continuously trying to interfere with the wedding plans and arrangements, while The Wedding Planner Jenna (Green Wing's Michelle Gomez) is a bit bonkers. Raif also finds out that he remembers Saskia as a constantly rebellious and trouble making school girl, and when Tim and her are having small tiffs with each other because of all of the wedding difficulties Raif and her start to spend more time together, talking mostly about her increasing stress. It becomes apparent that as they continually get together Raif and Saskia have unintentionally fallen for each other, and Tim is having his own doubts about the oncoming ceremony as well, and after the hen and stag parties have been and the day finally comes, it is unclear what the conclusion will be. In the end Tim before the wedding asks Saskia if getting married to him is really what she wants, to which she tearfully answer "no", and reaching the altar Raif announces that the ceremony will not go ahead, but then he steps forward and asks the vicar to marry him and Saskia as their feelings are true, and Raif ends his wedding video in a much different but better way than thought before. Also starring Harriet Walter as Alex, Angus Barnett as Reverend Dobbs, Julianne White as Tara Devlin and Felicity Dean as Jacqui. Hound is suitable as the jokey brother of the groom, Webb does his awkward persona well, and the supporting cast members all get their moments to make you laugh as well, I will admit the jokes aren't hilarious but it is relatively good fun, if you imagine The Blair Witch Project (without the scary moments) mixed with Four Weddings and a Funeral that is kind of what this is like, it is a relatively likable romantic comedy. Worth watching!

There seems to be a throng of Wedding based films recently. After Bridesmaids but it could've been Four Weddings and a Funeral that really started the trend. Whatever the root it seems both Hollywood and Britain are enamoured by the sheer social minefield that it causes. The worst of human beings are exposed in this high stress scenario, the glamour and need to show the guests a fabulous time tend to overwhelm the fact that this is, at the end, an expression of love between two people. Which should be the easiest thing in the world but is just... not...Even though every single idea that could surround the central theme of the wedding has been explored, especially the Hen/Stag Parties, this film tries find a unique idea the Best Man making a Wedding Video as a gift to his brother, the Groom. In doing so he records the build up to one of the most stressful experiences the poor Bride has ever endured. The Brides Mother taking a lot of creative control in the matter causing much vitriol between the Bride and Groom.It's a very predictable affair. But there's a lot enjoyable aspects. I personally found the visibility of the camera refreshing, knowing a character was in control of gave the actors the chance to really react to the absurdity of the situation and also feel the embarrassment of it being captured. It added a layer to the proceedings which was fun to watch, plus Rufus Howard's character trying to be creative and shoot as much as possible, plus the microphone man, Matt Berry, causing arguments and writing songs. The decadence of the Mother of the Bride was always a good mine for comedy too. But it's all subjective really and how much experience you have with weddings. Of course everyone will find humour in different jokes.I thought the acting was particularly good. Rufus Hound, who I've never really considered as a Leading Man, or even an actor, having only seen him on panel shows, was really quite good. The man can definitely act and he really sold the emotional beats along with the comedy. Lucy Punch is always fantastic and completely underrated for some reason. Harriet Walters was fabulous as the Mother and Robert Webb was perfectly lovely as the nervous Groom.There's nothing remotely surprising but there's a lot to be enjoyed. It's well acted, got a few funny bits and still manages to strive for a unique thread even though we know the ending by a mile off. It's the journey though, hanging around with these perfectly lovely characters and watching a wedding you're damn well pleased you won't be involved with.