Bride Wars

Both the actresses are enjoyable to watch and the plot could have been great but the script was really poor. The only funny parts in the movie were shown in the trailers and some of those parts were even cut out.
They needed a lot more character development of the supporting rolls. Especially since I really like most of the supporting actors (like Candice Bergen and the gal from 3rd rock) and I was looking forward to seeing them in this flick. We barely see any of the fiancés in the movie, only enough to get that one is supportive and loving and the other is a controlling selfish jerk.
There wasn't nearly enough wedding shopping. Like they only tried on one dress and bought it. I would have liked to see a bunch of dresses. Not to mention both dresses were UGLY.
During the whole movie I really didn't understand what all the fighting was about and it wasn't explained well at all. They both got to have their weddings at the Plaza but in different rooms at the same time. I would of said "no big deal" and chosen another maid of honor, so I don't understand why they made such a fuss.
It's too bad because it would have been great to see a sequel with the way they ended it, and I like seeing these two actresses together. Just bad writing I guess.

We ended up seeing "Bride Wars" because we ended up at the wrong theater (hey, it is a 50/50 shot in the Zenith City) and it was the next movie starting (we had already paid for parking and popcorn by the time we discovered our--okay MY--mistake). It seemed a good proposition given the likeability of the two stars, Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. Hudson is Liv, an up and coming cut-throat lawyer, and Hathaway is Emma, a most compliant middle school teacher. Since they were little girls they have dreamed of having June weddings at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Then the stars align and both become engaged, at which point they immediately book a joint appointment Marion St. Claire (Candice Bergen), the queen of wedding planners. Then the stars look down and laugh, and suddenly it looks like only one of them is going to get the wedding of her dreams. Or maybe both of them will end up with wedding nightmares.

I would say that the situation in "Bride Wars" is contrived, but having also watched "Swing Vote" this week, it seems a gross injustice to lump the two films together in that particular pile. But the problem here is not with the premise, but rather with its execution. The screenplay by Greg DePaul, Casey Wilson and June Diane Raphael comes up with enough comic elements off of the situation, but the movie never evinces any ambition beyond being something to be played at bachelorette parties for the next couple of years. There should be more of a balance for our sympathies in this movie between Liv and Emma, but there simply is not and even after setting up the idea of an earnest and heartfelt reconciliation between the two best friends, the script says, no, we are going ahead with the two brides wrestling in their wedding gowns because, hey, we already put it in the trailer.

The script also requires the friends and families of these two to get out of the way, and while I might be able to accept this on the part of the pair's few gal pals who appear in the film, I find it impossible to believe with regards to Liv's brother (Bryan Greenberg) and Emma's father (John Pankow). They would both want to attend both weddings and either one of them should have shown up and locked the two women in a room together until they came to their senses. Then again, you know going into this one that it is a chick flick and therefore should not be surprised that the male characters are ultimately inconsequential. Even an appropriately romantic proposal is assurance of nothing in this movie. Finally, when we get to the big lesson at the end you have to be skeptical because it is something these two women should have figured out a long time ago if they really were best friends. But the only thing in the movie that makes you think that they are is the fact the script makes them say the words from time to time, without ever backing it up with heartfelt actions. I do not want a movie to act like it has heart; I want it to actually have one.

"Bride Wars" is certainly true to its title, because it is predominantly about the efforts of these two best friends to sabotage the other one's wedding (or, more specifically, their preparations for that supposedly happiest of days). You would think that if Liv and Emma had been planning their weddings since they were little girls that the end products would be more interesting. But then if realism were any sort of concern here then we would be wondering how poor little Emma can afford a June wedding at the Plaza. Beyond that, it must be said that all of the best scenes in the film are Hathaway's, and she is so good that even with the grossest of manipulations the look in her big eyes and the quaver in her voice will still bring a tear or two to your eyes. Just as there is no question as to which of the two characters is the most sympathetic, neither is that any doubt as to which of these two actresses is going to be the bigger star, despite this middling little misstep.

Maybe I was not the target audience for this movie. Yes I am a young women, I like a good comedy and usually go to see anything Anne Hathaway is in. But that isn't the audience this must have wanted. It wanted the vacuous girl who has decided a wedding is more important then anything else she might enjoy in her life. That graduating college, having a baby (oh could this be the sequel) was the pinnacle of it all.

When there is a mix up with their wedding planner and the weddings are booked on the same day instead of coming up with a solution of a duel ceremony, or even some slight staggering it is better to destroy the other's wedding with not so funny hi jinx. I would tell you the ending but you can guess it unless you have never seen an American film and were hoping for a Hamlet like conclusion.


The reason for the stars I did give it is at least the humor is clean. It at least decided not to resort to bathroom humor in an effort for a few nervous giggles. Anne Hathaway does "act" and can't be all bad in anything she does. Kate Hudson is not as good, but not dreadful. Both would have done better with a script that went for plot rather then the concept of what a stereotypical women wants more then anything.

When dreams are at stake, even BFFs will go to war. Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Liv (Kate Hudson) have been dreaming about the Perfect Wedding for 20 years and it doesn't matter if they ruin their friendship as long as they get it. I love the two actresses, but that's about it as far as the movie goes. I had one moment of hilarity seeing the two brides duke it out going down the aisle. It's predictable, only mildly amusing, and not the best of its genre.

Rebecca Kyle, May 2009

It was a good movie. I expected more because most of the cute scenes were shown on the ads for the movie. I will probably watch again in a year or so and it may be better then.

Anne Hathaway plays Emma who is best friends with Liv played by Kate Hudson since they were children. When they were kids they had seen a wedding take place at the Plaza Hotel and made a pack that they both would get married there. So when they both get engaged, they both set dates in June. Problem? some how the weddings are set for the same day June 6th. so one has to change their date but neither wants to. They set out to change the mind of the other in hopes she will change their date.. does it work? watch and find out! Loved this movie...

I didn't think I would like this movie for the simple reason I didn't think that Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson will actually look good acting together.

Anne Hathaway reminds me of Snow White for some reason.

Kate Hudson is the life of the party type of person out there to be seen.

They actually did pull it off and they looked great and very convincing.

I am planning a wedding and no othe movie has made me feel so much like I related to it! A great fily to watch with girlfriends, your sisters, and ever your Fiance.

Of all the chic flicks that came out in 2009, this was probably the most original one. Gone is the sappy romance between guy and gal. Gone are the one-night stands, overbearing families that complicate relationships, and unintended romances. This movie is simply about two girls, best friends since childhood, who by accident have their weddings scheduled on the same day at the same place. They then proceed to destroy each other as a way of getting the other one to postpone the wedding. Would something like this ever happen in real life? Probably not, but the movie does seem believable, and the comedy is actually quite good. So overall, an enjoyable 1.5 hours of time in front of the TV.

A fine Blu-ray version of one of the worst movies ever with such (otherwise) fine actors. If you're a 14yr old female, this will be your best favorite film. If only the director had ended with the scene of the the 2 brides walking down the aisle together, it would have been a gay cult film for the ages. Maybe next time, Gary?