Wedding Crashers Review

This summertime rom-com is a mouthwatering prospect indeed: the Frat Pack’s hippest stars — Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn — teamed up as fast-talking rogues; an always-welcome comedy turn from Christopher Walken; and a flamboyant cameo from the daddy of Frat himself, Will Ferrell. To quote Vaughn from Dodgeball: “I’m laughing already…”

As it is, Wedding Crashers doesn’t quite live up to its promise, but through no fault of its off-the-wall cast. Sharing an easy chemistry and free of the usual joker/straight-guy dynamic, Wilson and Vaughn quip, riff and banter to hilarious effect. And both get their fair share of money moments — the latter’s muggings are particularly hysterical in a raunchy dinner-party sequence.

That the lead characters' cocksure confidence extends to the movie itself is its biggest weakness. While Vaughn and Wilson are adept at loose-limbed improvisation, that doesn’t disguise the fact that the material they’re funking up is pretty lazy. Sure, all Chris Walken has to do to score a laugh is narrow his reptilian eyes, but that’s no reason not to give the man decent lines. In fact, the only supporting character who doesn’t feel watered-down is Isla Fisher’s nutso nympho — an unexpected, scene-stealing joy. There’s enough good-natured energy to compensate, but the wait for this year’s Dodgeball continues.