Review of The Wedding Ringer (2015) by Tomislav R — 23 Feb 2015

"I get it, you're my best man but nobody's friend when it counts".

Comedies, comedies everywhere so let's give them a watch. That's a song iv'e been working on as of 1 minute before I wrote it. Irrelevant? yes but with so many bland comedies releasing nothing can be considered relevant if they are. Just as over-saturated as horror, comedies ironically have become a bit of a joke but not for the reason they'd want. TV is easily the best place for the genre (Community, Bob's Burgers, New Girl etc) and movies only has a handful of good one's every few years (Seven Psychopaths may be the last great one for me).

It then comes as no surprise that 'The Wedding Ringer' sits comfortably into the glut of bland but just about watch-able comedies. Starring 'Josh Gad' as friendless but soon to be married 'Doug Harris' he hires a wedding ringer (see!) 'Jimmy' (Kevin Hart) to be his best man (or should I say Bic). The premise in itself is a little far-fetched. Doug's fiancée 'Gretchen' (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) has some how never asked or met any of Doug's friends presumably making excuses up. But surely living with someone for so long - you'd know. But, hey, this is a movie and I suppose there's a minuet possibility that could happen. Like most in this films class it's evident from the get-go the direction the movie is heading. It hits all the typical beats of a middle-of-the-road comedy. Even going so far (seemingly) to go out of its way to make sure you know.

Having no friends at all (something it decides to explain arbitrarily halfway through) 'Jimmy' has to construct what he calls 'The Golden Tux' - essentially fabricating 7 identities of grooms-man and making it go swimmingly. This opens more questions than answers about other things but we'll gloss over that. Despite its story short-comings 'Gad' and Hart' worked fairly well together - the favourite of mine being when 'Jimmy' first learns his new name will be 'Bic'. There are moments here and there but there are just as many flat and all too familiar ones too. And the end is rushed with everything just thrown at the screen with quick - brief resolves.

'The Wedding Ringer' is kept somewhat afloat by Kevin Hart's energy and Gad's sincerity. Even with some genuinely funny scenes it can't be saved from a flat atypical story arch that rushes itself to the finish line and shows everything it has to offer in the first 20 minutes - setting up the inevitable ending. It's just another comedy to throw on the pile, but I didn't expect anything more so at least I didn't get less.