License to Wed (2007)

Forgettable nonsense

Not even Robin Williams could save this movie. And normally I like him. What's wrong about this movie? Mandy Moore is just there to look pretty (sorry but she is), the male lead is just a pain, there's annoying priest-to-be, and Robin Williams seems to be sleep walking through the role.

Of course when you're a couple you have all the firsts: first time you set eyes on each other, first date, first kiss, first time you go to bed together, then there's the whole moving in process, the engagement, the marriage, the baby. Not necessarily in that order. But in order to lower the divorce rate, Reverend Frank tries to make couples fall out before the wedding, therefore negating the purpose of the wedding. He tries his hardest with one couple, who seemingly have never had an argument (do they ever talk?) to realise that they shouldn't get married. (What's wrong with living in sin? Buy rings but the rest is just a piece of paper.)

Really, Licence to Wed is not worth seeing. It's instantly forgettable, with characters sleep walking through their roles, and this certainly isn't Mandy Moore's or Robin Williams' best movies. June 23, 2008

...never to fart...

License to wed is an often fall down funny film that delivers an experience few romantic comedies can. There are some of the best gags ever in any comedy let alone a romantic one, and Robin Williams is at his best as reverend Frank, a minister hell bent on ensuring that those who enter into matrimony are truly made for each other. I wont bother to go over the many factors that our young couple must deal with, that's best for you to experience by watching the movie. I will give you the negatives however. A scene of "healing" was gratuitous, poorly placed and unnecessary except for Williams to over hype a parody heavy televangelist joke leftover from his stand up act. The creepy robotic baby twins were over used and lost their ability to be amusing long before the diaper changing gag. The finale was too quickly delivered and allowed for little preparation. The choir boy sidekick was unnecessary and annoying. The shortcomings aside, License To wed is a terrific fun romp through the elements that make a relationship work or not work. 3.75 stars May 26, 2008

License to Wed Should Be Revoked

There is something about wedding movies that always makes me cry. Usually when one is on I start to well up tears associated with yawning and forcing my eyes to stay open. So when License to Wed came on the screen I started off anticipating that what would likely come next on the screen would aid in my quest to gain a few extra moments of shuteye in my often times busy day. And boy was I right.

Directed by Ken Kwapis, License to Wed perhaps had a decent chance to stand apart from so many other wedding movies out there thanks largely in part to the fact that two rather comedic actors, Robin Williams and John Krasinski, were part of the starring cast. Join that to the fact that a decent actress in the lovely Mandy Moore also starred in the film and at least on the surface there was a glimmer of hope.

However, what the movie offered was a rather insignificant film that was full of more fluff and filler than comedy and a borderline sappy theme running throughout.

Written by Kim Barker and Tim Rasmussen, License to Wed tells the story of two lovers, Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) and Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) falling in love and deciding that the time had come for them to take their relationship to the next level: marriage. Though already living with one another, they soon come to realize that there is a lot that each of them need to learn about the other and that marriage is indeed something that needs to be worked at.

Though Ben had plans for a quite simple wedding on the beaches of a tropical locale, Sadie instead wants to be married in her family's church and was the ceremony officiated by the family pastor, Reverend Frank (Robin Williams). Reverend Frank is not your everyday, old school man of the cloth and instead takes a much more modern approach to his proselytizing. He is part man of God and part Chinese restaurant open mike comedian of the week.

Reverend Frank tests the relationship of Ben and Sadie both in open ways and much more discreet and clandestine ways, as well. Though many of us have all gone through one form of a pre-wedding class, Reverend Frank employs an almost CIA approach to ensure that that Sadie and Ben are a good match for one another as they wish to become married.

However, Ben, needless to say, is quite put off by all of the antics of Reverend Frank and becomes more frustrated about the prospect of becoming married to the woman of his dreams than he looks forward to it. In turn, Sadie determines that this frustration then is a reflection upon a misconception that Ben does not feel committed to Sadie. This is where the movie becomes really cliche and it almost becomes hard to keep your popcorn down thanks to the gagging likely to take place.

It should come as no surprise that License to Wed was a 2007 Nominee for Teen Choice Aware in the Chick Flick category, probably thanks largely due to the fact that Mandy Moore was in any way associated with this movie. It is likely that the only people that might actually like this film would be teenage girls.

Though there are at times decent comedic lines in the film, those times are few and far between. The movie, although it might have been portrayed as being a comedy, was in fact far from it. When there is a good line in the film it is usually buried under a lot of bad writing and a poor storyline.

The acting in the film was nothing spectacular, especially given the prospect of Robin Williams serving the role of a Reverend quite well. However, it seems as though the comedy that Williams is capable of was weakened again by the writing that simply did not allow him to be his true comedic self.

License to Wed really serves no great purpose to movie watchers because it misses placing itself into so many categories. If someone wants to watch a good romance film following a couple into marriage, this is not the film for you. If someone wants to watch a comedy, this is not the film for you. Therefore, what is left is a rather trite attempt at a comedy film wrapped into the events of a wedding.

Though certainly most states do not allow for a marriage to take place without a license to wed, unfortunately most states have no restrictions upon someone watching this movie. Therefore, consider this a public service announcement: please stay away from License to Wed.
May 11, 2008

Wow!

I've seen my share of bad movies but I don't think that this is one of them. I was really looking forward to this film and while it didn't meet my expectations (with its premise it could have easily been a five) I still enjoyed it. There wasn't much character depth but it was funny and it doesn't fail as a romantic comedy- unrealistic yes- but enjoyable and with a nice positive story line. I would say watch it though I don't think that you would want to pay more than $10 for it. May 7, 2008

Liscense to Wed

What a great movie!! License to Wed I read all the reviews online and was surprised with some of the comments. I think people missed the point of this movie. I viewed it as a satire to marriage preparation; however, there were some great points made. One, with marriage comes committment, trust, communication and children. Two, marriage is never easy and one should not go into it thinking life will be great. Both parties need to learn to communicate and work out the every day issues.

The actors were great-like everyone else I love John Krasinski who I think was perfect for this role.

I highly recommend this movie for a nice easy going, hilarious family movie. My 11 year old daughter could not stop laughing. March 28, 2008

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