Movie Review: The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

Genre: Comedy  

Director: Claire Scanlon  

Starring: Allison Janney, Ben Platt, Kristen Bell, Cynthia Addai-Robinson  

Running Time: 99 minutes  

Synopsis: Twice-married Donna (Allison Janney) has three grown children: London-based Eloise (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) was fathered by the wealthy Henrique, who subsequently cheated on Donna. Paul and Alice (Ben Platt and Kristen Bell) are Donna's children from her second husband, who later passed away. Now Eloise is getting married and invites them all to her wedding, but the family is beset by squabbles. Alice is having an affair with her married boss and resents Eloise's wealth, while Paul is upset at his mother and confronting inadequacy issues in his love life.

What Works Well: Some of the London locations are attractive.

What Does Not Work As Well: This so-called comedy offers at best a couple of laughs. The rest of the juvenile script consists of imbecilic adults chasing after alcohol and sex (and often failing at sex because of the alcohol), with vulgarity a perpetual stand-in for wit. All the conflicts stem from an inability to hold simple conversations, and the music soundtrack jackhammers every obvious emotion. The implausible resolutions arrive within an avalanche of new revelations (Dad was a homophobe! I can't have kids! I will overcome self-loathing!), and lead to nausea-inducing hugs-all-around. 

Key Quote:

Paul (to Alice): Eloise is our half-sister which means we can half-ass the relationship.



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Movie Review: Run This Town (2019)

Genre: Drama  

Director: Ricky Tollman  

Starring: Ben Platt, Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev, Scott Speedman, Jennifer Ehle  

Running Time: 99 minutes  

Synopsis: In Toronto of 2012, Kamal (Mena Massoud) and Ashley (Nina Dobrev) are staffers for Mayor Rob Ford (Damian Lewis). Their boss works hard, but is also frequently drunk and abusive, and enjoys partying with gangsters. Young local reporter Bram (Ben Platt) is offered a sensational scoop: an alleged video of the Mayor smoking crack cocaine in the company of gang members. Bram has to convince his bosses (Scott Speedman and Jennifer Ehle) to let him pursue the story, while Kamal and Ashley confront Ford's increasingly unsavory behaviour.

What Works Well: The behind-the-scenes City Hall machinations carry some interest, and director Ricky Tollman injects dynamism with frequent use of split screens.

What Does Not Work As Well: Tollman the writer stumbles with a wayward script that starts with an awful context-free talky scene and never recovers. Lacking a rational anchor or meaningful perspective, what should have been a compelling true scandal story is fumbled into unfocused observations about millennial angst. Consumed by a urine-soaked colour palette, Kamal, Ashley, and Bram are saddled with dialogue that is much less clever than it thinks it is and remain far from worthwhile characters. Actor Damian Lewis suffers a worse fate inside a hideous fat suit. Ultimately resolving nothing, the hard-stop ending is merciful relief.

Conclusion: A scandalous waste of a juicy story.



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