The Big Wedding

*
Release Date: May 29th 2013

A long-divorced couple fakes being married as their family unites for a wedding.

Director: Justin Zackham (The Bucket List, Going Greek - writer)

Starring: Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Ben Barnes, Patricia Rae

Have you heard of the saying 'too many cooks spoil the broth'? There should be one for too many actors spoiling the plot. Some example come from the likes of Movie 43, Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve, whilst others work in The Lord of the Rings, Ocean's 11-13 and Love Actually. This will all depend on how the cast is used within the confines of the film.

The Big Wedding recycles and churns out the same old stuff we've seen before. It starts with Robert De Niro's ex wife Diane Keaton walking in on him going down on new lover and her former best friend Susan Sarandon. Not a bad start most would think. It goes down hill from there, as De Niro and Keaton have to pretend to be husband and wife again for adopted son Ben Barnes' wedding, so as not to offend biological mother Patricia Rae.

So ensues an ensemble of terribly cliche stories that The Big Wedding somehow makes them boring. The more serious the problem doesn't necessarily make them the more interesting. Amanda Seyfried goes back to familiar territory and is a bride to be (Mama Mia!) and her fame is wasted by a small part. Katherine Heigl has a bun in the oven and a major problem with her Dad (De Niro) and other half. Topher Grace is a 30-something year old virgin, waiting for the right woman, until Rae's daughter Ana Ayora, who's there to ruin it for him. De Niro is a foul mouthed, careless ex-alcoholic who makes it hard to believe that he's put up with and Robin Williams is a judgmental Priest, making him a waste of a character and screen time.

This isn't as much a comedy but more a rambling of problems and bitter people. Jokes are recycled and seen before. The most notable being Grace getting whacked off underneath the dinner table by Ayora, whilst listening to the ramblings of Seyfried's upper class, racist parents. All stereotypes are here, it's such a shame that none of them were left out.

Overview: Don't bother with this film. Watch an alternative film with one of these actors in, like The Godfather.