My biggest hang-up with this Bridesmaids-meets-Hangover-esque comedy is that it’s hard not to listen to its star, Josh Gad, and not picture the animated snowman Olaf from Frozen. The ‘characters’ may be different – but their voices are exactly the same. So it takes some getting used to! Do you wanna build a snowman…?
Is that all that’s wrong with The Wedding Ringer? No. But there’s plenty that’s right… including a story that is sweet and relatable at its core, and a cast of characters that generate plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. It’s basically a ‘buddy movie chick flick’ that offers up an entertaining escape from the somber awards-season fare.
Gad plays Doug Harris, a loveable but socially awkward groom-to-be who doesn’t have a best man or groomsmen to fill out the large wedding party as he prepares to marry the girl of his dreams (Kaley Cucoco-Sweeting).
That’s where Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) comes in. He’s a Best-Man-For-Hire whose services always feature a killer toast that’s sure to draw tears and cheers from any group of guests. He can be very convincing in the best-buddy role. But much like Pretty Woman’s rule about kissing (you know the one), Jimmy has a rule about becoming real friends with the guys that he stands up for. See where this is going?
Anyway, Doug hires Jimmy for the premiere ‘Best Man’ package. It includes the casting of a motley crew of groomsmen who all have a role to play. Each comes armed with a stupid party trick they can turn to in most any situation to divert attention from the charade. It’s all quite stupid, but funny too. And yes, occasionally raunchy and offensive, in an equal-opportunity sort of way.
The Wedding Ringer is rated ‘R’, but isn’t nearly as hard of an ‘R’ as many similar flicks. So it’s okay for older teens. If you like the likes of The Hangover, Bridesmaids, Wedding Crashers, The Wedding Singer, and Beverly Hills Cop (okay, I threw that one in for variety – but it’s still relevant) then you may want to check out The Wedding Ringer – if not now in the theater, then perhaps later as a rental.
The trailer basically encapsulates the cleaner highlights of the movie, without giving away the ending: