Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

6/10

Starring

Hugh Grant

Andie MacDowell

Kristin Scott Thomas

Simon Callow

 

 

Directed by Mike Newell

Four Weddings and a Funeral is one of those movies from the '90s that became something we all talked about. It revolves around a group of friends who meet at social occasions, with a romantic storyline starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. This movie marked the first of many collaborations between Grant and screenwriter Richard Curtis and has since been tagged as one of the best comedies you can see.

The movie is filled with engaging comedic conversations, and I have to give credit to Curtis for crafting them. It’s about a group of friends all navigating the single life while attending various social events. At one wedding, Charles (Grant) meets Carrie (MacDowell), and they spend some nights together before she returns to America. They meet again at another wedding, where Charles realizes that, in the past, he hasn’t been the best boyfriend. They spend another night together, but Charles once again fails to seize the opportunity to make Carrie his.

The next time they meet is at another wedding, and this time, Charles realizes that he’s missed his chance with Carrie. Now, there’s a funeral to attend for one of his friends. At the funeral, Charles is left pondering whether he will ever find true love. After the funeral, there’s another wedding, and Charles faces a choice: go after Carrie or settle for the person he’s with.

I’m keeping this synopsis vague to avoid spoilers about who is getting married and who is being buried.

Made with a budget of about $5 million, the movie went on to be an unexpected huge success, grossing over $245 million. The production was done on a tight budget, with the cast being retained to avoid extra costs, and some extras even wore their own clothes.

The movie’s success can be credited to Curtis’s writing, Grant’s fantastic performance, and Mike Newell’s direction.

It received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay (for Curtis). The movie also won Hugh Grant a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor. At the BAFTAs, it also won Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kristin Scott Thomas.

This was the film that propelled Grant to stardom (I think), and even now, the movie is still funny and easy to enjoy. I regard this as a classic that will always be funny no matter when you see it.