One of the most depressing truths about modern Hollywood is that it doesn't take much to break away from formula and turn otherwise routine efforts into something fresh and original. But that ability in Hollywood seems to be in short supply, so too many times films are predictable, especially those belonging to critically despised genre of romantic comedies. Thankfully, every now and then sad expectations are beaten. One of such examples is My Best Friend's Wedding, 1997 romantic comedy by P.J. Hogan.
Protagonist of the film is restaurant critic Julianne Potter (played by Julia Roberts). Many years ago, while in college, she had brief relationship with Michael O'Neil (played by Dermot Mulroney) and two of them remained best friends ever since, making pact that they would marry each other if they remain single at 28. Soon before the deadline Michael, now working as sports writer, informs her about upcoming marriage to young, beautiful and rich heiress Kimberly Wallace (played by Cameron Diaz). Julianne suddenly realises that she had carried torch for Michael and, in the fit of jealousy, decides to travel to Chicago and sabotage the wedding. She does so by befriending ditzy Kimberly and bringing her gay editor George Downes (played by Rupert Everett) who is supposed to act as her fiance and thus make Michael jealous.
Director P.J. Hogan became famous in Australia due to Muriel's Wedding, romantic comedy significantly darker, more realistic and more intelligent than Hollywood examples of the same genre. Traces of that approach are present in his Hollywood effort, but the real originality comes from Ronald Bass' script which manages to fool audience - from the beginning they expect to see typical romantic comedy in which protagonist, played by mega-popular queen of the genre, successfully thwarts unnatural union between the man of her dreams and the other woman. Half way through the course of the film audience begins noticing that the ideal man and the other woman are the real dream couple and that the protagonist is actually a villain. Unfortunately, both Bass and Hogan lacked courage and tenacity to pursue this idea towards its logical conclusion – Julianne's manipulations are never as malevolent as they could have been and the her character's transformation at the end is very predictable. Another problem is miscasting of Dermot Mulroney who is simply too bland to be taken as embodiment of ideal man. Those flaws were partially compensated with few glimpses of Hogan's anarchic humour - especially in scenes featuring Rachel Griffiths and Carrie Preston - and Cameron Diaz displaying great comedic talent in her seemingly thankless role. My Best Friend's Wedding is far from being the most important films in 1990s, but it shows that Hollywood didn't lose all of its creative potential.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on January 22nd 2004)
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