The Wedding Date

Having been invited to her sister's wedding, Kat Ellis (Debra Messing) learns that her former fiancé is the best-man. It's bad enough that her younger sister is getting married before her but her ex-boyfriend Jeffrey (Jeremy Sheffield) will be there and she doesn't have anyone to bring.

Dreading her trip to London for the wedding, the New Yorker makes a rash decision and hires a male escort to accompany her. Kat pays Nick (Dermot Mulroney) $6,000 and hopes that his presence will make her 'ex' jealous.

There are elements of Four Weddings And A Funeral, and My Best Friend's Wedding in this movie but it isn't half as entertaining as either of them. The Wedding Date only has a few ideas that are stretched out into what can only be described as an extended version of a sitcom. The story is punctuated with numerous feel-good sound tracks in an attempt to give a big screen feeling but this has small screen written all over it!

If there isn't much of a story there had better be plenty of laughs! As far as the comedy goes there are a few good laughs but not enough to save the movie. In fairness to Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney they were never going to look convincing in a comedy that favours sound tracks for witty dialogue. Dermot Mulroney has already proven himself in previous performances and Debra Messing has proven herself in the extremely popular TV show Will And Grace where she plays leading character Grace Adler. I would like to see her again in something a lot smarter that this.

It is quite a short movie and the feeling that it was being stretched to 'movie length' wasn't helped by the fact that some of the scenes didn't seem to add anything to the story nor provide any comedy. One such scene was a dance class that the wedding party attended before the big day. The scene is quite short but comes across as a bit of a 'filler'.

Bottom Line: Predictable, lightweight romantic comedy that might pass as 'made for TV' but hasn't enough comedy or story for the big screen.

If you enjoy The Wedding Date you might also enjoy the following romantic comedies: Wimbledon,  Love Actually,  Bridget Jones's Diary,  Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason,  Sweet Home Alabama,  Maid In Manhattan,  The Wedding Planner.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2005.

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Genre: Comedy/Romance

Director: Clare Kilner

Certificate: The Wedding Date was rated 15A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of fifteen years of age and upwards. Under 15s must be accompanied by an adult. The movie contains sexual references and innuendo.

Official Movie Website: The Wedding Date

~ Main Cast ~

Debra Messing

Dermot Mulroney

Amy Adams

Peter Egan

Holland Taylor

Jack Davenport

Jeremy Sheffield