It is said that in some cases of post-mortem analysis, the coroner could not determine the exact cause of death because of the large number of illnesses and medical abnormalities. The same rationale can be applied when trying to determine why License to Wed is not a good film.
Was it the casting? The director? The performances? The script? Well, although one specifically didn't lead this romantic comedy to its deathbed, the total sum of these momentous issues did not help it survive.
In License to Wed, Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) are young newlyweds-to-be who must pass a marriage course taught by Sadie's preacher from youth, Father Frank (Robin Williams), before they walk down the aisle.
Despite Ben's odd initial feeling about Father Frank, he agrees to take the course with Sadie, and thus sets off a roller-coaster ride of un-passable tests that Ben and Sadie are doomed to fail. With his little understudy played by Josh Flitter, Father Frank continues the course that from a keen eye seems like sabotage. But is it?
Robin Williams has been as entertaining as ever in the last 20 years and played in many "Good" roles, which were truly great. From the witty and daring Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam to the wise, yet flawed Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting, each role was truly unique and brought out the best of what Williams could do.
Even a blue genie was brought to life with his strung-out comedic verbal assaults. Yet his most recent attempt at comedy is a play-out of his many other fast-talking roles from his past, with far more crudeness than ever before … and without the hilarity that would follow.
First-time lead actor Krasinski and Mandy Moore both get an "M" for mediocre. There just isn't anything special about their performances, and Moore is simply another "cute" addition.
Overall, though, it is the words on the paper along with the casting and collaboration of actors that can make a film. When it comes to License to Wed, the script is as formulaic as the genre of romantic comedy itself and the casting, well, could've led the film in a completely different direction and brought it back from the dead.
1 star out of 5