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After the holiday decorations are packed away and the excitement of another award season begins to die down, we once again find ourselves in January—a month that’s typically as cold and dreary inside theaters as it is outside. The first month of the year’s movie dead zone generally features cheesy action movies and comedies that aren’t especially comical. But, every so often, you might come across a pleasant surprise—like Kevin Hart’s latest comedy, The Wedding Ringer.
The Wedding Ringer finds groom-to-be Doug Harris (Josh Gad) struggling to put together a wedding party on a tight deadline. Desperate to make the day perfect for his bride, Gretchen (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting), Doug calls in best man for hire Jimmy Callahan (Hart), who agrees to handle everything.
With so many moving pieces—including seven unruly groomsmen—it’s no surprise that the days leading up to the wedding are full of outrageous mishaps. But as he tries to pull off this unprecedented wedding day con, Doug finds that he enjoys being one of the guys—even if none of it is real.
The story may revolve around a lavish wedding, but The Wedding Ringer isn’t a romantic comedy. In fact, Doug’s relationship with his gorgeous fiancée remains surprisingly undeveloped for much of the film, lingering in the background until it suddenly becomes an important part of the plot. But that’s okay—because this isn’t the story of a socially-awkward man somehow snagging the woman of his dreams. It’s the story of a socially-awkward man finding the friendships that he’s had neither the time nor the opportunity to build on his own. And the resulting bromance is almost as lovable as it is outrageously funny.
Hart is clearly a comic at the top of his game—and his fast-talking, wise-cracking character easily carries the film’s comedy. But it’s Gad—whose most memorable role to date has been as the voice of magical snowman Olaf in Disney’s Frozen—who gives the film its heart. Doug is adorably awkward and anxiously earnest—a lovable loser who just wants everyone to be happy. And, together, the friendless groom and his straight-talking best man make a surprisingly entertaining team.
Of course, as is often the case with R-rated comedies—especially those hitting theaters in January—the film has its share of outrageous moments that go just a bit too far. But despite a few ridiculous moments of over-the-top insanity, it’s still a fun-filled and often wildly funny buddies-for-hire comedy. So if you’re looking for a laugh or two to break up the winter blahs, don’t be afraid to commit to the unlikely comic bromance of The Wedding Ringer.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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