Four Weddings And A Funeral [1994]

But with this most basic of premises, screenwriter Richard Curtis has crafted a moving and thoughtful comedy about the perils of singledom and that ever-elusive search for true love. In the wrong hands, it could have been a horribly schmaltzy affair, but Curtis' script--crammed with great one-liners and beautifully judged characterisations--keeps things sharp and snappy, harking back to the sparkling Hollywood romantic comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The supporting cast, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow and Rowan Atkinson (who starred in the Curtis-scripted television show Blackadder) is first rate, at times almost too good--John Hannah's rendition of WH Auden's poem "Funeral Blues" over the coffin of his lover is so moving you think the film will struggle to re-establish its ineffably buoyant mood. But it does, thanks in no small part to Hugh Grant as the bumbling Charles (whose star-making performance compensates for a less-than-dazzling Andie MacDowell). Though it's hardly the fault of Curtis and his team, the success of the Four Weddings did have its downside, triggering a rash of inferior British romantic comedies. In fact, we had to wait until 1999's Notting Hill for another UK film to match its winning charm (scripted, again, by Curtis and also starring Grant). --Edward Lawrenson

The extras, too, are impressive. You get an interesting group commentary by director Newell, Producer Kenworthy and writer Curtis. Also included are; 2 documentaries, TV promotions, good deleted scenes etc. There's also the short featurette which appeared on the original DVD - so you're not missing out by upgrading.

Because DVDs can be bought so cheaply nowadays, my advice is to spend the extra pound or two and buy this - it's worth a thousand more than the old release.


A classic in every way   August 8, 2005
J. Kirkland (Scotland)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

To the top notch cast, the humour, the wit the shear class that this film still has, it works on simplicity & is one to watch time and again. For the jokes just keep coming.

Both Hugh Grant & John Hannah gave two of there best performances to date & the chemistry and friendship between all the characters was so endearing.

Well done to all and this is one of the best British films ever and deserves to be!!1


4 stars   September 9, 2003
Musicfan83
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Four weddings and a funeral has to go down as one of the most enjoyable and most successful British comedy ever. Written by Richard Curtis (Notting Hill) the film follows hopeless Charles (the extremely adorable Hugh Grant) who is forever going to other people’s weddings but is never actually the groom himself. He takes an interest in Carrie (Andie McDowell) who he meets at yet another wedding and through the course of the film they meet at a no. of social gatherings and the audience is left wondering “will they or won’t they get together.”

The casting is superb, Hugh Grant as always is charming and indeed very watchable but we can’t forget the supporting cast who play Charles’ friends. The only slight disappointment is Andie McDowell whose performance wasn’t electrifying in the least but the chemistry between her and Grant makes up for that.

Extremely funny and in places very moving, inparticular John Hannah’s emotional speech at the funeral. Along with Bridget Jones’ diary this is British comedy at it’s best.


British Comedy breaks into Hollywood   May 4, 2007
Jay (Mauritius)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Very funny film with some superb lines. Hugh Grant can be very amusing, and there was a great cameo from Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling, nervous trainee priest who keeps fluffing his lines during one of the weddings. ("Awful wedded wife", or "Holy Goat" for "Holy Ghost"). I also liked David Bower as Charles's deaf brother David, the late Charlotte Coleman as his impudent younger sister Scarlett and Anna Chancellor as his ex-girlfriend Henrietta (also known as Duckface), whose embarrassing emotional incontinence perhaps explains why Charles is so keen to distance himself from his feelings. I was less impressed by Simon Callow as Gareth, loud, extrovert and excessively hearty (like most characters Callow plays).

To sum up, this was a very good film indeed; proof that the British cinema can produce romantic comedies as good as Hollywood at its best.


over rated   May 22, 2007
becky_roberts (UK)
6 out of 11 found this review helpful

watchable but only because of richard curtis's writing and hugh grant being hilarious - per usual
andie whatever her name is terrible - it's the only thing I've seen her in and I think take every scene with her in out of the film (which isn't that many thank God!) it would be a fantastic movie and would get five stars!