John (Wilson) and Jeremy (Vaughn) always look forward to the summer – it’s wedding season!  Not that they are ever invited to any of them.  This duo has perfected the art of “wedding crashing”.  They turn up with a bogus story, fictitious names and do their best to seduce the alluring bridesmaids into a one-night stand.  From a musical montage we see at the start (with nudity), you’ll learn they have a very high success rate.

I have to admit that the opening did catch me off guard.  I expecting a more down-the-line comedy but the subject matter has edge and controversy.  I could easily see female audience members being offended by the idea of two guys rocking up at a wedding and using their fake charm to sleep with tipsy/drunk women.  As a drama, this would be a hell of a different film!  Curiously though, writers Steve Faber and Bob Fisher have penned a comedy and early audience responses suggest their jokes are hitting the mark.

The crux of the story arrives when they read in the paper about the “Kentucky Derby of weddings”.  One of the daughters of U.S. Treasury Secretary Cleary (Walken) is getting married and the lavish wedding has been earmarked as one of the year’s biggest social events.  If John and Jeremy could bluff the secret service and sneak into this one, they know it would be the crowning achievement of another successful wedding season.

Things go to plan at first but John and Jeremy soon find their standard scripts being thrown out the window.  Jeremy sleeps with one of the Secretary’s daughters, Gloria (Fisher), but then can’t seem to escape from her.  She’s a “clinger” and now that they’ve had sex, thinks that they’ll be together forever.  Jeremy wants nothing to do with this however and is looking for the door as fast as he can.

John on the other hand, thinks he’s found true love in the Secretary’s other daughter, Claire (McAdams).  He makes a humorous first impression on Claire but unfortunately, she already has a boyfriend.  John believes the secret is time.  If he can just spend more time with Claire, he might still be able to win her over.    

With the premise established, Wedding Crashers kicks into its comedic phase.  Impressed by them both, Secretary Cleary invites John and Jeremy to come with them on a boat cruise.  For John, it’s the perfect chance to compete with and “show up” Claire’s boyfriend.  For Jeremy though, it’s a hellish trip stuck with Gloria who cannot keep her thoughts to herself.

I felt the jokes were a little hit and miss.  There were some hilarious scenes but a few others didn’t work.  That said, the pairing of Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball) and Owen Wilson (Starsky & Hutch) in the leading roles gives the film a huge boost.  They are two of the best on-screens comedians of the current era.  Just wait until you throw Will Ferrell (Bewitched) in the mix!  Vaughn and Wilson work well off each other and somehow maintain a straight face when delivering insane lines.

Australian actress Isla Fisher of Home & Away fame makes her Hollywood debut and her crazy character will win her some supporters.  The true talent in the film though is the gorgeous Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, The Notebook).  She’s a delight to watch on screen and always looks like she’s enjoying herself.  I can’t wait to see her next film (whatever it may be).

After three weeks of release in the States, Wedding Crashers is still performing brilliantly on top of the charts.  The small drop off (fall in business from the previous week) can only mean there’s good word of mouth and repeat business.  In other words, people like it.  I think you will too.