{"id":3471,"date":"2015-03-06T17:00:57","date_gmt":"2015-03-06T17:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=3471"},"modified":"2015-03-06T17:12:19","modified_gmt":"2015-03-06T17:12:19","slug":"the-wedding-ringer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/comedy\/the-wedding-ringer\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wedding Ringer **"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"the_wedding_ringer\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Everyone likes a happy ending, and weddings are the perfect setting. We all know how this is going end, don\u2019t we? Well that could be the only surprise The Wedding Ringer<\/em> has to offer because the rest of the bromance comedy feels like a complete rip-off of other in a similar vein \u2013 even with a few giggles to still be had.<\/p>\n

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Josh Gad plays Doug, successful in his career but friendless, and about to marry a gorgeous girl called Gretchen (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting). When asked for his groomsmen list by the bride-to-be, Doug panics and gets put in touch with \u2018wedding ringer\u2019 Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) who will be his best man for a price \u2013 and even find groomsmen for an even bigger cost. Hence, the con is on, and Jimmy becomes Doug\u2019s best pal, military chaplain Bic Mitchum, while Jimmy tries to coach the rest of the oddball bunch of groomsmen in time for the big day. Can he pull off the biggest stunt yet?<\/p>\n

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\nThe Wedding Ringer<\/em> is very understandably predictable to a point, with a lot of the plot stretching the realms of believability, but it offers that ultimate feel-good factor \u2013 the one that allows all oddballs to become heroes in life. The film does struggle with what it wants to be; either a screwball farce or a lesson in relationships mattering. Obviously, there has to be some substance that flourishes out of all the idiocy, but you do wonder if a more fulfilling and sincere comedy lurks in the midst that addresses why some of us are so \u2018lonely\u2019 in life when we\u2019re surrounded by people \u2013 that\u2019s essentially the essence of the bromance here. It\u2019s just this film is tonally all over the shop as it pitches for laughs and goes beyond toilet humour one minute then tries to be all serious and philosophical the next.<\/p>\n

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\nGad and Hart do get off to a less than convincing start, with some clunkiness to their comic timing, until the very end when they suddenly gel on screen \u2013 perhaps it\u2019s the wedding moves that seal the deal and show them stepping out in sync? Fans of both will get enjoyment from each of their idols in some form, it\u2019s just the rest of us are left waiting for that collective comedy force to kick in. There are too many daft set-pieces that get in the way of that bond truly taking hold.<\/p>\n

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\nIf you like your comedy served fraternity style and aren\u2019t into life grand morals, The Wedding Ringer<\/em> is perfectly acceptable brotherly-love viewing. Ultimately, someone will win out of all the chaos that ensues; it\u2019s just hard to know who in this instance.<\/p>\n

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2\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

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By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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