The Wedding Planner (2001)

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Directed by Adam Shankman.

Starring Fred Willard, Bridgette Wilson, Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Judy Greer, Justin Chambers.

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This lighthearted romantic comedy in the tradition of Runaway Bride (1999) casts Jennifer Lopez in the Julia Roberts mold. Lopez stars as Mary Fiore, an ambitious and successful San Francisco wedding planner who works only for the most wealthy and exclusive clients but who is also a perpetual single. Pressured by her father Sal (Alex Rocco) to settle down, Mary is saved from a collision with an out of control dumpster by Steve Edison (Matthew McConaughey), a successful pediatrician. After sharing a romantic evening and a dance together, Mary learns that Eddie is engaged and that she's being hired by his controlling fiancée Fran (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras), an Internet tycoon, to plan their lavish wedding. The directorial debut of former choreographer Adam Shankman, The Wedding Planner costars Kevin Pollak, Judy Greer, and Kathy Najimy. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

A pleseant surprise.
by WraithTDK in WraithTDK Blog

liked it.

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"This movie was pleasantly surprising. It avoided the cliches I've come to expect from this type of movie, such as the woman that the male protagonist is with being a cartoonish bitch, and the guy pursuing the female being an unlikable idiot. It was actually very romantic and well done. " [More]

Worst of 2001
by MovieBabe in MovieBabe Blog

hasn't rated it.

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"Did you hear about the blond couple who froze to death at the drive-in? They went to see Closed for Winter. What did the fish say when he hit a concrete wall? "Dam." The above jokes -- which make me laugh every time -- are an appropriate introduction to the year's worst cinematic disasters for the following reasons: (1) The first is my favorite movie-related joke, (2) both indicate that I'm easily amused, and (3) the punch line of the second has typically been my reaction when I learn of the films I've been assigned to review. It's been a dismal year at the movies, from disappointing summer fare (how do you make Pearl Harbor boring?) to so-so independents and foreign films that have been successful simply because people are tired of feeling so bad (Amelie? Cute, but about 20 minutes too long). Then there are the no-name, no-plot groaners that I get stuck with, this year's unusually high number of which is attributable to either frantic green-lighting during ... " [More]

The Wedding Planner
by MovieBabe in MovieBabe Blog

hasn't rated it.

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"The only part of The Wedding Planner that's can't-miss is Jennifer Lopez's ass. The rest of the film is, well, less significant -- and not nearly as easy to watch. The Wedding Planner posits J. Lo as Mary, an anal-retentive manager of marriages who's on the fast track to partnership in her firm, but each night comes home to an empty apartment and emptier personal life. One felicitous afternoon, Mary gets her heel stuck in a manhole cover while crossing the street, just as a mammoth dumpster is knocked free by an errant cab and starts heading her way. Cue rescue by aw-shucks Southern gentleman: Pediatrician Dr. Steve (Matthew McConaughey) shoves Mary aside in the hick -- er, nick -- of time, and their eyes meet and the angels sing. They go on a dream date, complete with outdoor dancing, old romantic movie, and sudden warm-weather downpour; the next day at work, poor, lonely Mary can't stop smiling (although we don't see them trade numbers, and he later admits ... " [More]

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

lost interest.

If the road to worldwide diva-hood is paved with romantic comedy vanity projects, Jennifer Lopez tosses off her first with The Wedding Planner, a sloppy mix of exaggerated scenarios and eccentric supporting characters. Perfect coifing and glossy lips define Lopez' performance, which is capable enough at certain lower levels. Blame freshman director Adam Shankman, however, for making it difficult to see her as a businesswoman defined by her superior composure. Defaulting to broadness wherever possible, Shankman subjects Lopez to one frazzled episode after another. This sort of slapstick confusion informs the film throughout, with Judy Greer especially grating as Lopez' jangled assistant. Matthew McConaughey frustrates in a more sedative manner, dispensing the same brand of insultingly lazy charm that's characterized his career to date. The Wedding Planner occasionally touches on likeability after its trying first act, but it never rises above the level of tired retread. More regrettably, it can't capitalize on its one chance at an original perspective: providing insider stuff on orchestrating society's most lavish weddings. What we get instead is Lopez spritzing smelling salts on a besotted father of the bride -- FOB, per her headset acronym-speak -- from the stash stored in her jacket lining, which would make a street hustler envious. Then again, the whole film is built on such simple bits of screenwriting fluff, designed to catch daydreaming future brides in the audience at the height of their susceptibility. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide

Tags: wedding , family , love , marriage , movie
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