Superstar photographer Connor Mead (McConaughey) is a cold-hearted womaniser heading home to support his brother Paul (Meyer) as he marries Sandra (Chabert), even though Connor thinks marriage is an archaic institution. He is visited by the ghost of his playboy uncle (Douglas) and taken on a tour of his past, present and future, during which he realises that he's always been in love with maid of honour Jenny (Garner). But in the real world, he's doing his best to sabotage the wedding.

Director Waters keeps the film snappy and bright, even though the script never develops any edge. For a story about a womaniser, Connor is strangely sexless, and the innuendo is of the broadest, silliest variety. The dialog is also full of speeches that stretch credibility, from Connor's early anti-marriage rants to a series of rambling, sappy monologs at the end. And worse than this is the script's desperate attempt to explain away Connor's bitterness through events in his past. This of course includes huge signposts to every detail of the conclusion.

It only works because Waters approaches it with such a steady hand. Except for a few terrible slapstick sequences, the film is centred on the extremely watchable actors. McConaughey is perfect as the over-tanned ladies' man. Douglas is hilariously well-cast as his lecherous uncle/mentor. Forster and Archer do more than we expect with their one-note stereotypes, while Meyer and Chabert have some terrific moments all their own. But the real heart of the film is Garner, who manages to convey a realistic combination of brittleness, strength and inner rage.

She so clearly reveals the truth that Jenny will never trust Connor that we don't really believe they can ever get together. Even with the big "Christmas morning" transformation sequence, we're not completely sure. But through a series of sentimental speeches and overwhelming cuteness, the film actually manages to tug on the heartstrings. Although in the end we realise that we choked back a tear more often than we laughed.

themes, language, innuendo

28.Apr.09