FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL
A film review by Sue Roberts
Copyright 1994 Sue Roberts
Director: Mike Newell Script by: Richard Curtis
Features: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow, David Bower, Corin Redgrave, James Fleet, John Hannah, Charlotte Coleman and Rowan Atkinson.
I feel the formula for British weddings is fundamentally bizarre (archaic tradition meets nouveau riche aspiration) and as this movie sets out to show, the comic possibilities are endless! The real joy of Richard Curtis' script, however, is the accuracy with which the events are portrayed. It starts off with something simple, the "howling up the motorway in an unsuitable vehicle and changing when you arrive" gag. Well, I ask you, who hasn't? Judging by the way the 2000 or so audience present fell about, and the exact nature of their shrieking laughter as events unfolded, a lot of the audience were seeing their past life flash before them. On a more serious note the wonderful timing and the somewhat bemused delivery, reminded one of Buster Keyton.
The director, Mike Newell, has managed to bring out the and flavour of this script beautifully by ensuring all of the balancing acts within it are given room to breathe. The counterweight to the gloss of all those weddings being the devastating loss of a friend loved by everyone. A reminder that one may enter this world with nothing, but may leave with rather more. Simon Callow's dancing was particularly memorable!
The more subtle dichotomy between the American (Andie McDowell) who marries for money expecting it to be the key to eternal happiness, and the wealthy aristocrat who would settle for anyone and is eternally rebuffed evokes the gap between British and American ideas.
To shed some light on the character of Charles (Hugh Grant). Once upon a time in England, cricket was played by gentlemen who turned up on the day of the match, tossed on a set of flannels, strolled nonchalantly onto the green and scored a century. Blood might have been sweat, but the critical thing was to make it appear effortless, and imply that it was, of course, a fluke!
This still applies to rugby. My husband played rugby with him at school.
The director was both clever and fortunate to pick a team of actors who worked so well together to make this film into an outrageously funny piece of entertainment.
Sue Roberts chrisrob@cix.compulink.co.uk
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