Most people dream about being in a tight-knit group of friends who have their backs no matter what. The kind of people who will tell us the truth even when we don’t want to hear it. They are continually by our side laughing, crying, and cheering at every twist and turn life can throw in our paths. They are the brave souls who will even interrupt a wedding ceremony to share a “third option” so the right choice will be made. Charlie (Hugh Grant) was that lucky. No matter how many times he fu**** up, his friends would surround him to help pick up the pieces. Wow. How incredible to be a member of a pack that travels from wedding to wedding…FOUR WEDDINGS (to be exact) AND A FUNERAL.
1994 was the year this little inexpensive film was released and was a huge hit, especially in England. The movie was a polite, understated, seriously silly, rom-com that made everyone’s heart pitter-patter faster especially whenever Hugh pushed back his hair off his adorable face, or looked at someone with such truth and mischievous within his puppy dog eyes. This is now my cue to sigh silently.
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL was quirky and different thanks to the creative and imaginative talents of the writer (Richard Curtis) and director (Mike Newell). Both of these genius artists wrote and directed LOVE, ACTUALLY and BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY. What a duo combination for any actor. FWAAF was filmed within 35 days using “real” people from various locations. This saved the budget heaps of money since the extras also had to provide their own costumes.
Many young actresses wanted the part of Carrie, but Andie MacDowell was the final choice. She did not ask for a salary but rather opted for profit points. She made over two million in the end, while Hugh only took home $100,000 in salary. Maybe Andie should have been an agent for the cast. Andie was perfect for creating Carrie from the States. Her smile could light up all the castles in Scotland. She was sweet, smoldering, and captivated not only Charles’s heart but audiences everywhere. Their chemistry together was simply hot…hot…hot.
The word fu** was used a mere 28 times throughout the story. It was shouted 13 times within the opening scene. It was a perfect writing choice. No editing was necessary, although my favorite was the line “Fu**adoodle doo.” Honorable mention should go to “bugger” shouted six times in a row. I could not stop laughing.
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL was all about timing. The clock waits for no one as the group bittersweetly learned when one of their own was lost forever. The touching words from W.H. Auden’s poem, FUNERAL GRIEF, broke me to tears. I was gutted for all the ensemble and their loss. The brilliant cast includes James Fleet, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, John Hannah, Charlotte Coleman, and Rowan Atkinson. Their easy bantering, yelling, and snickering made their conversations seem authentic and ordinary in the most powerful ways. It always felt like the audience was privy to so many inside jokes like “Duckface, More than Madonna, less than Princess Di, and Bonking is like table tennis with smaller balls.” It was all terribly witty and totally enchanting.
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL is a verbal onslaught of classic delight. It is outrageous, garish, joyful, and sobering. It represents life with all its giving and taking precious seconds that we, in the end, cherish. I am saying “I do” wishing everyone the ability to find a pack of their own and watch love montages together in the pouring rain for years to come. It is available on Prime Video.
