Andrea’s Angle | “Shotgun Wedding” Blows Up Comedy Target

From the first moment I saw the trailer, I was dying to see this movie. While I haven’t watched many of Jennifer Lopez’s films, I was familiar with the rest of the cast, especially comedy heavyweights Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin. The film looked like an amazing combination of action, romance, and comedy. After watching, I can safely say it blows up the comedy target, and while, yes, Jennifer Coolidge steals every scene she’s in, Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel are equally funny and talented in this film, with an entire cast that adds to the laughter.

Shotgun Wedding is a romantic action comedy film directed by Jason Moore and written by Mark Hammer. In the film, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) are having the ultimate destination wedding in the Philippines. The biggest thing they’re worried about is their lovable families: Tom’s mom Carol (Jennifer Coolidge); his father, Larry (Steve Coulter); Darcy’s divorced parents Renata (Sonia Braga) and Robert (Cheech Marin), along with Robert’s new girlfriend, Harriet (D’Arcy Carden) Plus the arrival of Darcy’s ex-fiance Sean (Leeny Kravitz). Just when they get cold feet, the wedding party is taken hostage. Darcy and Tom must figure out how to save their families if they don’t end up killing each other first.

Part of what makes this so delightful is the comedy. Part of that is just the blend of comedy elements plus the delivery from seasoned pros like Jennifer Coolidge, Cheech Marin, and D’Arcy Carden. The writers have taken a great situation and given us hilarious lines such as “I like to pee standing up.” Every character gets a moment to shine comically speaking, either with a line or a physical gesture that adds to the humor. Even the bad guys get the chance to have tiny moments. And along with the fantastic dialogue, we also are given amazing physical slapstick, such as Tom and Darcy sliding down a rope line and Tom having trouble getting off the line. The fighting between the pair enhances the comedy, not just the romance aspects.

The scenery is gorgeous, and I don’t just speak of the island. Part of the comedy is how Darcy struggles with the wedding dress and removes parts of it along the way. The action scenes are well shot, especially how Tom and Darcy fight back against the bad guys. The physical action is perfectly balanced with the comedy, with how Darcy and Tom react adding to the humor. While some of the action goes over the top, most of it feels realistic, given the situation.

The relationship dynamics between Tom and Darcy aren’t not forgotten as they deal with the problem. In fact, at the heart of the story is how they figure out how to resolve their relationship and the feelings that they have for each other and for their families. While it’s accomplished as they struggle to save the wedding party, they do manage to realistically discuss their feelings and the problems that they face as a couple. I love how well the writers set this up.

This film is driven by the characters, which means it relies on actors who can hold the screen. Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel have terrific chemistry between them, and they are lovable and fiery together. The pair does an amazing job with the comedic aspects. While there are times a secondary character steals a scene, the pair keep the focus on each other during critical scenes. Jennifer Lopez is fun and witty, while Josh Duhamel portrays his character as earnest and loving. Jennifer Coolidge steals every scene she’s in, but that’s not a surprise. She is incredibly funny. Cheech Marin is great as Robert, and Lenny Kravitz is dynamic as Sean. The entire cast, including secondary characters, are talented and hilarious.

The only aspect that drew me away from the story was that it’s predictable. While there are a few surprises, especially in comedic moments, most of the plot is easy to predict. It is completely apparent why the family is taken hostage, and the ending of the film is not a surprise at all. Still, the film is so funny, and the relationship aspects are so well done that I loved this movie.

If you love Jennifer Lopez and you like action/comedy, I would highly suggest you check out this movie. It is explosively funny, full of comedic highlights, and actors that shine in their roles. Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel are not only dynamic together, but they hold the audience’s attention when they are on screen. Jennifer Coolidge is fantastically funny, and the rest of the cast is talented. Every actor gets a moment to shine, which I feel is crucial to a good story. It is laugh-out-loud funny.

Rating: 4.5 grenades out of 5.

Facebook: @ShotgunWeddingMovie
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Shotgun Wedding

Genre: Action/Comedy/Romance

Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begins to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “’Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones–if they don’t kill each other first
SHOTGUN WEDDING launches on Prime Video on Friday, January 27, 2023.

ONE-LINER: A couple’s extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals, but in the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.

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