Where to watch My Best Friend’s Wedding
3 1/2 Stars
My Best Friend’s Wedding is a delightful, and perfectly fine example of the romantic comedy in its 1990’s incarnation. That decade produced some of the most polished, and well executed films to have ever populated the genre. James Newton Howard contributes a delicate, and balanced score without going overboard, while master cinematographer László Kovács adds a lush visual quality to the modern-day fairytale. Julia Roberts has never looked better than in this picture as lit by the Oscar-winning Hungarian Kovács.
Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) is a commitment adverse food critic for a highly respected magazine. One night she receives an urgent message from her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney). When she finally returns the call Julianne is startled to hear that Michael is engaged to be married to a sweet-natured socialite (Cameron Diaz). Now, Jules realizes that she’s in love with Michael, and will do anything to stop the nuptials before he marries the wrong person.
My Best Friend’s Wedding was written by Ronald Bass, one of the decade’s highest paid “polisher”, his efficiency and command of structure, and adherence to genre conventions without slipping into cliché, or sentimentality is commendable. Julia Roberts’ knack for physical comedy and her very expressive facial features make her a perfect actress for this material. Rupert Everett has a fantastic scene in which he pretends to be Robert’s fiancée though clearly homosexual. He’s so good you wish he was in the movie longer. Look for Paul Giamatti as a policy enforcing bell-hop, who shares a smoke with Potter during the movie’s quietest segment. Outside of three musical interludes that stop the film cold turkey, My Best Friend’s Wedding is an exquisite treat for fans of the genre.
Director: P.J. Hogan
Stars: Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett