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In 1994, Hugh Grant was a struggling actor, landing bit parts in TV shows and indie films. Then along came Mike Newell, a small-time director who suddenly found himself in the spotlight after a recent film (Enchanted April) garnered three Oscar nominations. Together, the two somehow took a limited budget and turned it into a charming romantic comedy that put both director and star in the spotlight.
In Four Weddings and a Funeral, Grant stars as Charles, a lovably bumbling Brit whose weekends seem to revolve around weddings. Everyone he knows is getting married, yet he and his closest friends have somehow managed to evade matrimony, leaving them to navigate the awkward toasts and drunken wedding dances together.
Everything changes for Charles when he meets Carrie (Andie MacDowell), an American wedding guest who makes him think differently about things like love and marriage. But their story—as it plays out at four weddings and a funeral, as the film’s title suggests—isn’t just a simple, straightforward love story.
Call it fate…call it kismet…call it just plain dumb luck. But, whatever you call it, the pieces all came together to create an unforgettably charming British rom-com. The script (written by Black Adder’s Richard Curtis) offers something for everyone: clever wit and zany physical comedy, along with tear-jerking drama and fairy tale romance. And it’s all in perfect harmony.
The set-up, meanwhile, is just as smart as the dialogue. All but a few scenes revolve around special occasions—weddings and funerals—where emotions always run high, making them the perfect settings for a film filled with drama, heartbreak, comedy, and romance.
And it’s all topped off by a lovable cast. Of course, at the time, Grant was the big story. And, even now, all these years (and identical Hugh Grant roles) later, it’s impossible not to fall for his bumbling charm and tousled good looks all over again. But Grant’s Charles is also surrounded by the kind of friends that anyone would be happy to attend wedding after wedding after wedding with. From flamboyant Gareth (Simon Callow) and quirky hopeless romantic Scarlett (Charlotte Coleman) to cynical Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas), each member of the group brings heart, humor, and loads of personality to each new event.
If you’ve endured a few too many weddings—with their fluffy dresses, seating charts, and inappropriate toasts—you’ll appreciate the clever comedy of Four Weddings and a Funeral. And if you’ve ever found yourself in love with the wrong person at the wrong time, you’ll relate to its hapless romance. It’s a sweet and entertaining little film that you will (and probably already do) turn to time and time again.
Blu-ray Review:
Fans of Four Weddings and a Funeral won’t find any new features on the film’s new Blu-ray release—but the disc still includes a number of extras (mostly from the film’s 2004 tenth anniversary edition).
Special features include trailers and promo spots, five deleted scenes, a short feature focusing on Newell and his two stars, and a commentary with Newell, Curtis, and producer Duncan Kenworthy, who dig up all kinds of fun on-set stories.
If you’re looking for a quick look behind the scenes, try Four Weddings and a Funeral: In the Making, a short and sweet making-of feature that offers a brief introduction to the film’s cast and crew. Or, for a more in-depth look, there’s The Wedding Planners, which discusses everything from the story and the cast to the frequent on-set filmmaker flare-ups.
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