The Wedding Planneris a 2001 Americanromantic comedyfilm directed byAdam Shankman,in hisfeature film directorial debut,written by Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis, and starringJennifer LopezandMatthew McConaughey.
| The Wedding Planner | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Adam Shankman |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Julio Macat |
| Edited by | Lisa Zeno Churgin |
| Music by | Mervyn Warren |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $28–35 million[1][2] |
| Box office | $94.7 million[2] |
Plot
editAmbitiousSan Franciscowedding planner Mary Fiore is reintroduced to childhood acquaintance Massimo by her father Salvatore, who wants them to marry, but Mary declines. Hoping to persuade her boss, Geri, to make her a partner at their company, Mary is hired to plan catering heiress Fran Donolly's society wedding to long-term boyfriend "Eddie". While reporting her success to her colleague Penny on the phone, Mary's shoe heel gets stuck in a manhole cover. As she struggles to free herself, a taxicab collides with a dumpster that comes hurtling towards her. A nearby man pulls her out of the way of the speeding dumpster just in time, and she thanks him before fainting.
Waking up in the hospital, Mary meets her rescuer,pediatricianSteve Edison. Penny invites Steve to attend an outdoor movie with them, but makes an excuse to leave the pair alone together. Mary and Steve dance to an alfresco screening ofTwo Tickets to Broadway[3]but are interrupted by a heavy downpour before they can kiss.
At a dance lesson with a client, Mary encounters Fran, who introduces her to her fiancé "Eddie", none other than Steve. Fran leaves them to dance together, and Mary angrily rebukes Steve for leading her on behind Fran's back. Penny reminds Mary that her career is more important than her feelings and persuades her to continue planning Fran and Steve's wedding.
On a visit to a potential wedding venue inNapa Valley,Massimo appears and, to Mary's horror, introduces himself as her fiancé. While riding through the estate with Fran's parents, Mrs. Donolly's singing frightens Mary's horse. Steve rescues Mary again and admonishes her for condemning his actions when she was also engaged.
At home, Mary scolds her father for trying to set her up with Massimo. Salvatore reveals that his marriage to her mother, which Mary has viewed as the perfect relationship, was arranged and only became a loving relationship months later, leaving Mary conflicted.
While visiting another potential venue, Fran reveals she is going on a week-long business trip and leaves Mary and Steve to continue preparations. They apologize for their angry words and soon become friends. They run into Wendy and Keith, whom Mary reveals was once her fiancé until she caught him cheating with Wendy on the night of their rehearsal dinner.
Intoxicated and struggling to get into her apartment, Mary breaks down, lamenting that Keith is married and expecting a baby while she is alone and miserable. Steve gets Mary inside and comforts her as she sobers up, insisting that Keith was a fool to pick Wendy over her. Steve leaves but quickly returns and confesses his feelings for Mary. She replies that she respects Fran too much to let anything happen between them and sends Steve away.
Fran confesses to Mary that she is unsure if she is still in love with Steve. Ignoring her own heart, Mary convinces Fran to continue with the wedding. At a birthday party, Massimo offers Mary a heartfelt proposal, and she reluctantly accepts; the two couples prepare for their respective weddings. Leaving Penny to coordinate the Donolly wedding, Mary goes to marry Massimo at the town hall. Steve asks Fran if they are doing the right thing, and she admits that she does not want to get married. They part amicably, Fran leaving to enjoy their honeymoon alone. Penny reveals Mary's marriage plans to Steve, and he rushes to stop her.
At the town hall, Massimo and Mary prepare to marry, but her father stops the ceremony, realizing the wedding is not what Mary wants. Mary, having given up on true love, insists that life is not a fairy tale and that marrying Massimo is the right thing to do but realizes he is not the one for her and leaves.
Steve arrives to find Salvatore and Massimo, who reveals that he could not proceed with the wedding knowing Mary was actually in love with Steve. Steve reveals his feelings to Salvatore, who encourages him to go after her. Steve and Massimo ride off on Massimo's scooter to the park, where another outdoor movie is starting. Steve finds Mary, asks her to dance, and they kiss.
Cast
edit- Jennifer Lopezas Mary Fiore
- Matthew McConaugheyas Steve Edison
- Bridgette Wilson-Samprasas Fran Donolly
- Justin Chambersas Massimo Lenzetti
- Judy Greeras Penny Nicholson
- Alex Roccoas Salvatore Fiore
- Joanna Gleasonas Mrs. Donolly
- Charles Kimbroughas Mr. Donolly
- Fred Willardas Basil St. Mosely
- Lou Myersas Burt Weinberg
- Frances Bayas Dottie
- Kevin Pollakas Dr. John Dojny
- Kathy Najimyas Geri
Production
editCasting
editThe original actors set to play Mary and Steve wereJennifer Love HewittandBrendan Fraser,respectively. They were replaced withSarah Michelle GellarandFreddie Prinze Jr.Both couples eventually dropped out due to scheduling conflicts withBuffy the Vampire Slayerfor Gellar, leaving Lopez and McConaughey to be the eventual stars.[citation needed][4]
Filming
editMany of the scenes were shot inGolden Gate Parkin San Francisco, specifically at the Music Concourse (between the oldDe Young Museumand the oldCalifornia Academy of Sciences), theJapanese Tea GardenandThe Huntington Library and Gardens.The first wedding ceremony is filmed inside the chapel atStanford University.[5]
Reception
editThe Wedding Plannerwas released in the United States on January 26, 2001, bySony Pictures Releasing.[2]
Box office
editThe Wedding Plannergrossed $60.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $34.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $94.7 million.[2]
In the United States and Canada, the film grossed $13.5 million from 2,785 theaters on its opening weekend (theSuper Bowlweekend), opening at number one at the box office.[6]Lopez's second albumJ.Loreached number one on theBillboard200the same week, making Lopez the first entertainer to achieve a number-one album and film simultaneously in the same week.[7]
Critical response
editThe Wedding Plannerreceived generally negative reviews from critics. On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 17% based on 106 reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. The consensus reads, "Instead of being light and charming, this romantic comedy is heavy-handed and contrived in its execution. Also, it's too unoriginal."[8]Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 33 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[9]
Entertainment Weekly'sLisa Schwarzbaumcompared the film unfavorably toMy Best Friend's Wedding,writing, "WhereJulia Robertsturned the world on with her huggability, Lopez's vibe is that of someone afraid to get mussed. And whereRupert Everettwas divine as a sidekick, McConaughey is mortally ordinary as a main dish who spends most of his time smiling like a party guest. "[10]Kimberly Jones ofThe Austin Chroniclenoted that the two leading characters being mistreated was the biggest disappointment fromThe Wedding Planner,feeling that while Lopez and McConaughey have "enormous charisma" (referencing Lopez's work on 1998'sOut of Sightas an example), the "blandness ofThe Wedding Plannerburlap-sacks their appeal in an altogether dowdy outing for two stars who deserve much snazzier threads. "[11]A. O. ScottofThe New York Timeswrote that the "undeniable charisma" of the film's stars along with their "goofiness" makes "The Wedding Plannermore painless than it has a right to be. "[12]Variety's Robert Koehler describedThe Wedding Planneras "an attractive bridesmaid but hardly a gorgeous bride among romantic comedies."[3]Michael Thomson from theBBCwrote, "Unfortunately, after the two leads become less wired in each other's presence, and the sexual tension begins to droop, everyone seems to be reading an autocue."[13]For her role in the film, Lopez was nominated forWorst Actressat the22nd Golden Raspberry Awards.[14]
References
edit- ^"The Wedding Planner (2001) – Financial Information".The Numbers.
- ^abcd"The Wedding Planner (2001)".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^abKoehler, Robert (January 18, 2001)."The Wedding Planner".Variety.RetrievedMay 18,2024.
- ^Hunt, Elle (January 30, 2023)."'A lot of the demons seem a little cheesy now': Sarah Michelle Gellar on Buffy, her burnout and her comeback ".The Guardian.RetrievedMay 29,2024.
- ^"Story Notes forThe Wedding Planner".AMC.January 2013. Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2016.RetrievedMay 8,2020.
- ^"The Wedding Planner (2001) – Domestic Weekend".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^Tyrangiel, Josh(August 13, 2005)."Jennifer Lopez".Time.Archived fromthe originalon March 1, 2009.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^"The Wedding Planner".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^"The Wedding Planner".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^Schwarzbaum, Lisa(January 31, 2001)."Movie Review: 'The Wedding Planner'".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^Jones, Kimberly (January 26, 2001)."The Wedding Planner".The Austin Chronicle.Archived fromthe originalon February 2, 2012.RetrievedNovember 3,2012.
- ^Scott, A. O.(January 26, 2001)."Film Review; Some Things Just Can't Be Planned".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon April 5, 2011.
- ^Thomson, Michael (March 22, 2001)."Films – review – The Wedding Planner".BBC.RetrievedNovember 3,2012.
- ^Kaltenbach, Chris (March 20, 2002)."Worst in Show".Archived fromthe originalon December 21, 2019.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
