"The Wedding Date," directed by Clare Kilner ("How to Deal"), opens this Friday. The film is strategically marketed as a desirable Valentine's Day date flick, though at times it's as predictable as Grandma's Thanksgiving stuffing, fulfilling the obligations of a modern romantic comedy.
Kat Ellis, played by Debra Messing of "Will & Grace," is a single young woman living in New York who hires a male escort to accompany her to her sister's wedding and pose as her doting boyfriend.
When the ordered escort, played by Dermot Mulroney ("About Schmidt"), surprisingly turns out to be gorgeous, the viewer gets an idea of where the film is heading. But the film has enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.
Debra Messing plays a jilted, slightly neurotic character going to her younger sister's wedding in London, England. Her ex-fianc?(c) is the best man and she has a desperate need to make him jealous. Showing up at the wedding alone won't do the trick. To solve her dilemma, she thumbs through magazines to find an escort and hires Nick Mercer (Mulroney), an extremely handsome and charming male prostitute. She takes $6,000 out of her 401K to pay him and buys him a plane ticket to England. Upon arrival, Mulroney discovers Kat's dysfunctional family in turmoil.
The two are forced to share Kat's old bedroom while staying with her parents, setting the stage for most of the film's comedy. Kat happens to be in the room for Nick's obligatory disrobing for a shower, although she piles up the pillows to create a wall between them while sleeping in the same bed. Sexual tension-o-rama.
The only family member that Kat gets along with is her stepfather. Amy, her half-sister and the bride-to-be (Amy Adams), is a self-absorbed brat, but the elder feels oddly protective. They go out on the town for the bachelorette party and it becomes obvious that Kat's little sister has a secret to share. The night of drunken fun ends with Kat visiting the ATM. She takes out as much cash as her several credit cards can bear in order to pay her hired escort for additional services. Nick refuses the money.
Kat's ex-fianc?(c) (Jeremy Sheffield) is tormented by Kat's presence throughout the film as his secret is also brewing and Kat's mother, Bunny (Holland Taylor), is overbearing, embarrassing Kat at every opportunity. Nick uses his uncommon knowledge of women to serve as the family therapist.
The attraction between Kat and Nick grows while Kat is determined to show up her ex.
This PG-13 film is a perfect date flick. The prevailing comment from viewers coming out of the theater was, "It was cute." No Oscar potential here, but those who appreciate a light-hearted romantic comedy with a few chuckles will be overjoyed. "The Wedding Date" is a feel-good movie with enough pizzazz to make it worth the trip.
Grade: B
