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DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy

DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy

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DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy

There’s a certain expectation when it comes to a romantic comedy, right? You anticipate the arc of these characters to provide a hearty wooing effect, cultivating in some funny and charming anecdotes, but ultimately, a romantic finish. You want to love the characters as much as they eventually love each other.

For most of the trip, Destination Wedding takes a different approach.

DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy
source: Regatta

That’s not to say it doesn’t use some of the common ingredients, but this newest rom-com is a variant on the norm, and unfortunately, it doesn’t master that tactic.

A Bitter Spin On The Genre

Frank (Keanu Reeves) and Lindsay (Winona Ryder) spark up a conversation as they wait for their plane. Soon, as every future chat will be, it goes south. Was he cutting in a line that doesn’t even exist? Their meet-cute, this bad encounter at the airport, quickly morphs into the realization that they are both headed to the same destination wedding in San Luis Obispo, California.

Not only that, but Frank is the groom’s brother, though they are quite estranged, and Lindsay is his jilted ex-fiancé. Frank felt pressured by his family to attend. Lindsay received an invitation, most likely one given out of generosity, possibly pity, but not with the intention of her actually attending. Neither are fond of the wedding party that they will be accompanied by. As this ball of fun continues for them, the two are forced to share a taxi, have adjoining rooms and sit together at the rehearsal dinner. Of course, they eventually meld because of their shared hatred, starting their bumpy romantic journey.

Both Frank and Lindsay are quite miserable, and neither are shy about discussing just how they feel, about… anything. The two not only embark through a variety of wedding activities with a lackluster response, but even their eventual hook-up has commentary befitting the snarky couple. It’s great to see these two again, sharing the screen for the fourth time. Their chemistry is still very much alive. Even when they are hurling insults at one another and trying to convince each other why they are underserving of happiness, they’re magnetic to watch.

DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy
source: Regatta

When the occasion calls for it, Destination Wedding has the capacity to be entertaining, but it is too smart and too sardonic for its own good. The film is subtitled “A Narcissist Can’t Die Because the Whole World Would End” and throughout the movie we’re delivered with reasons to dislike these two, but it isn’t always easy.

Misery Loves Company

Let’s make one thing clear: this film has moments of hilarity. There’s a direct fire dialogue between our two leads with some very intelligent writing as we hear the musings of two cynical people, as well as great use of physical humor. This limited cast presents us with angsty and frustrating people, that manage to be hard to ignore. In one of the first few scenes the two try to open a bag of airplane snacks and their facial expressions, both at one another and at this menacing grub, are sidesplitting.

In fact, some of their exchanges, and the chosen cast, is its shining part. Written and directed by Victor Levin, there are some interesting choices made here. For one, nobody else speaks a single line. These other characters are merely props, blending in with the background and not reacting in any way to Frank and Lindsay. It makes the dialogue and setting seem like a play. There are some beautiful and cozy shots of the location, but it isn’t a big enough part to stand out. Another is the ceaseless observations of only these two, to the point that their incessant sour grumblings and monologues lose their original mirth.

Keanu Reeves’s straight faced, dead pan and narcissistic remarks paired with Winona Ryder’s despairing, but (more) hopeful exchange, for the most part, is on point. The two both share the screen for nearly its entirety, and they are a great choice for it. Each knows how to be charming, even when they aren’t particularly amiable. I love that they did this movie, even if I don’t adore the film itself.

DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy
source: Regatta

It is difficult to put my finger on exactly what doesn’t work here, but I think it is the same thing that does, it’s just the excess that drowns it. Destination Wedding feels as though it never takes off, a flat line. The same shtick, even in this short 86-minute window, in repetition grows tiresome. I found myself congratulating Levin’s plucky take at first, but by the end I thought, “is that it?”

Perhaps the duo could have benefited from a more auspicious outing, or some sort of interaction that required things to change. One scene, after their day together, the two relax in the hotel room watching television, diving into the mini bar and complimenting each other (in their own way). This variation from their previously shared scenes was a welcomed and fruitful change. Since this is a romance, after all, there are some moments with believable spark, such as that scene, but not enough.

Conclusion: Destination Wedding

With two likable stars playing unlikable characters, some witty repartee that borders on being too wordy, and an overuse of its finer points, Destination Wedding ends up getting lost in execution. I commend the effort.

What did you think? Was it enough to entertain you? How did you feel about these two actors reuniting? Let us know in the comments below!

Destination Wedding was released in theaters and VOD August 31, 2018 in the US. For international release dates, see here. 

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