Four Weddings and a Funeral - 25th Anniversary [Blu-ray]

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, made on a pauper's budget, is one of those little British films of which no one was expecting much. Surprisingly, though, it became the little engine that could and garnered much acclaim from fans and critics and cashflow in the theaters. It even shot up to the number one slot in the American box office. This was Hugh Grant's breakthrough film, the one which catapulted him to A-list prominence as a top flight comedic leading man. It made him a star.Thru the course of four weddings (and one devastating funeral), the movie chronicles the on-again, off-again romance of Charles, chronically tardy at weddings and commitment-phobic (his pals call him "a serial monogamist"), and Carrie, the lovely independent American girl. I got so into this movie that it wasn't until at the end that I realized I didn't even know what these characters - and those in Charles's inner circle - did for a living, only that they seemed to be fairly well-off blokes and girls and a tight-knit, fun-loving bunch of pals. But most of the story does take place within the confines of the weddings (and that one funeral), because those are the only instances in which Charles and Carrie ever interact. But for one exception, that being a sequence in which Charles accidentally bumps into an engaged Carrie and she invites him to accompany her as she tries on different wedding gowns.The screenplay is ridiculously good. And Mike Newell directs it, and I've always liked his stuff (ENCHANTED APRIL, INTO THE WEST, PUSHING TIN, and HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE). The romance is nice enough, with Charles almost bemusedly wooing the ravishing Andie MacDowell. Back in 1994, when this movie was released, Andie MacDowell was the biggest name on this roster. At that time in her career, she was doing big things, what with GREEN CARD and GROUNDHOG DAY having done well, and this film only served to garner her even more notice. But if I were to nitpick, it'll be to say that we never do get to know her character as well as we come to know Charles. Even by the end of the film, Carrie comes off as enigmatic. But the love story is only one slice of a very savory pie. There's big heart in this terrifically fleshed-out supporting cast, these actors pitch perfect in their parts and most capable of winning over the audience. However, some are more pitch perfect than others, and so I point out Simon Callow as the gregarious Gareth, John Hannah who delivers a magnificent reading of W.H. Auden's "Funeral Blues," and Kristin Scott Thomas who underplays it as the acerbic and sad Fiona. Meanwhile, Rowan Atkinson is simply hilarious as the flustered new priest who gets a chance at conducting his first ever marriage ceremony (in which he breaks out "the Holy Spigot!!" Hah!). But all the actors involved here are wonderful, and that I'd actually feel a measure of sorrow when one of their characters abruptly passes away is a testament to this little film's ability to affect the audience. Charles and his crew, they seem like a great bunch of folks, even if they teeter towards posh.But Hugh Grant owns this film. Hugh Grant wasn't really on Hollywood's radar before this picture, languishing as he was in forgettable made-for-TV films and overseas cinematic no-hopers. FOUR WEDDINGS is the film which, for the first time, showcased Hugh's comedic flair and impeccable timing. If you think he stammers and flutters those eyelids now, brother, he was a lot worse back in the day. But Hugh Grant oozes such charm and demonstrates such a quick and self-deprecating wit that the awkward habits somehow become disarming. For two samples of the man's dexterity with delivering convoluted lines, check out Charles's wedding toast and also his declaration of love for Carrie, with mad references to David Cassidy thrown in.What I have is the Deluxe Edition DVD, which offers these special features: Filmmakers' audio commentary, which is okay and sometimes interesting, although, frankly, I would've preferred Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell's two cents (and anyone else's in the cast, for that matter); 5 deleted scenes with optional commentary by the producer (including more with Rowan Atkinson's novice priest); "The Wedding Planners" and "FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL: In the Making" are two behind-the-scenes featurettes; "Two Actors and a Director" is a 5 minute segment of interviews with Director Mike Newell and Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell; a Behind the Scenes photo gallery; promo spots (pretty funny, actually, with Hugh and Andie each getting a 30 second spot to promote the movie); and the theatrical trailer. Not bad.I can't help but bring up Hugh Grant's later film  Notting Hill (Collector's Edition) , and partly it's because it holds echoes of FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. Both films feature an out-of-his-league Englishman romancing an American beauty, although NOTTING HILL is decidedly more fairy tale. Both films have wonderful supporting actors and that tiny whiff of elegance, and both films will make you laugh but then do a one-eighty and make you sad and make you reflect. Oh, but then NOTTING HILL doesn't trot out characters with names like Duckface, Vomiting Veronica, and Miss Piggy. For whatever bragging rights that's worth.

This, the UK death at a funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually are musts for any collection

What is taken at face value is easily targeted with disdain.‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ is of no exception - and at many points it seems to revel in the monotony of its contents as shown through the honesty of its title.When finished its audience will feel many things - with being cheated out of exposition and what is expected to be character development two things that are high on this list.But what happens, however, when the moments not shown are the most important?The history of marriage is a convoluted one, but as many would agree the ideal union entails an equal partnership of sorts.More than this, marriage and weddings are often the result of an optimism for the eternal: It’s an acknowledgement of the moments and people that have crossed paths and have become held together by a profound sense of loyalty, honesty, and unconditional love.And then comes the funeral.Unlike marriage, death is most often the uninvited and unpredictable visitor - and with it comes a permanence in its inevitably. Attempts to escape it have been to no avail, and thus comes the justification for the funeral; the funeral marks a point where new memories and experiences with the deceased must be furthermore made in spirit, and is an ongoing reminder of the devastation that can come with change. Nonetheless, the funeral and death create something of a mirror for its witnesses as a theoretically formal opportunity for both private and public reflections.And while we never become privy to these moments - the ones preceding these monumental events that are an overture of emotion - is it not enough to assume that the attendance of these alone might have a considerable impact on the decisions Charles wants to make for his future?I realize I’ve said little about what this film does accomplish - and I guess the bottom line here is that what you see isn’t always what you get; ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ obviously enjoys forcing its viewers to read between the lines and orchestrates the affinity its characters have for growth in a way that requires some much needed effort and patience.And, yeah, perhaps I’m seeing something that isn’t really there.But at least I saw something, didn’t I?

Love the opening scenes. If only Andie McDowell hadn't been cast this movie would be a must-watch classic.

Of course, goes without saying this is a great film, albeit slightly flawed (terrible cheesy ending, Andie MacDowell's wooden acting, etc.) but when Hugh Grant is signing with his brother who is deaf, there's one word of a subtitle thrown in randomly here and there, which doesn't translate any meaning and completely by-passes the comedy element between them (which, if you've seen a properly subtitled version, is very funny). What a shame - it's as if someone started to add these in, but couldn't be bothered in the end and just left it hanging.... My 13 year old was watching this with us for the very first time and we'd really bigged it up! But those moments were just confusing and ruined. This dvd needs to be re-produced with proper subtitles. Sort it out!

This at times annoying film does have at its base an interesting conceit: a stream of weddings and one funeral. I bought it really only for some of the 'secondary' performances, which I find magnificent: Simon Callow, Kristin Scott Thomas and several others. The film attains an unexpected level of thoughtfulness when W.H. Auden's 'Funeral Blues' is recited at the funeral. Altogether worth putting up with the all too frequent irritation of elements of the story and of its two leads.

Hugh Grant is matchless as the bumbling posh guy who can't bring himself to say 'I love you' or work out where his true affections lie till nearly too late. A very timeless homage to uptight Britishness and our fixation with ostentatious weddings which we love to see in the cinema but secretly hate going to. I watched this with a fussy 18 year old who laughed all the way through so its star has definitely not faded.

I've spent nearly 20 quid on a piece of plastic that won't play on a UK Region B Blu-Ray player. The real pain is that I bought it some time ago and can't return it!! I've tried to contact the supplier but haven't received any response. The seller is masquerading as a supplier of European DVD's by having "EU" in their name. IF you do buy, CHECK REGIONS IMMEDIATELY because it wasn't marked on the case!!

Started (in my memory at least ) the run of UK "feel good" films ( Notting Hill, About a Boy, Bridget Jones, Love Actually, etc etc ) Good old-fashioned fun, some great lines and scenes, Grant at the top of his blinky, stuttery, thing. Only woeful bit is Andee McDowell's acting - she just simpers and pouts all the way through. She even gets her timing way wrong at the end - turning round to speak to Grant, BEFORE he calls "wait"......... But a classic that stands the test of repeat watching, sad though it is to see the late Charlotte Coleman.