The art of making light romantic comedies seems lost to most contemporary filmmakers and that's unfortunate because audiences can't survive only on action, horror, sci-fi thrillers and silly comedies.

January 26, 2001

Veronica Mixon

I had such high hopes for The Wedding Planner starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey because both of these stars are gorgeous and very likeable. But, unfortunately, The Wedding Planner is a stinker.

Mary Fiore (Lopez) is the most prestigious wedding planner in San Francisco and she's so busy pulling off big, lavish weddings that she doesn't have much of a personal life. She meets Dr. Steve Edison (McConaughey) after a freak accident one day and they're instantly attracted to each other. They spend one lovely evening together talking and flirting, and Mary admits that maybe she's met Mr. Right. However, when she meets Fran Donolly (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras), Mary discovers that the groom is none other than Steve. Stunned, disappointed and angry, Mary decides that she'll do the wedding anyway because landing the account will net her a partnership at work.

Meanwhile, her father (Alex Rocco) takes it upon himself to arrange a marriage for Mary to Massimo (Justin Chambers), who has just arrived from Sicily.The Wedding Planner begins pleasant enough and there are a number of funny scenes and one- liners. Mary is so astute at planning weddings that she marshals over a large staff with high-tech headphones and wears a utility belt crammed with enough drugstore items to divert any disaster. She knows exactly what to say to nervous brides, grooms and parents thus foiling any chance that someone will bolt from the ceremony. And, she can estimate how long each couple will be married based on what song that they choose for the wedding. Of course Fran's choice is disastrous and according to Mary, Fran's choice of teal colored gowns for her bridesmaids is wrong. "Teal is the color of gangrene!"

The problem with The Wedding Planner is that while Lopez and McConaughey are very charming together, the film fails to develop a heart. The love of old movies is a start but the arranged marriage seems stupid. We really needed more time to watch Mary and Steve skirt the issue of falling in love and while Steve's confrontation with Fran at their wedding is intelligent, the bride still seems abandoned.

Jennifer Lopez has continually surprised audiences since she stepped away from the pack of young starlets with her awesome performance in Selena and her erotic turn opposite George Clooney in Out of Sight. Cast mainly as the beautiful girlfriend in Money Train opposite Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, Blood and Wine opposite Jack Nicholson and U-Turn with Sean Penn and Nick Nolte, Lopez's skillful choices also shows her remarkable acting range. In Anaconda, she revamped the classic monster genre by battling a gigantic snake in South America and in The Cell, she bravely dueled with a crazed serial killer by entering his dreams.

So, I wasn't surprised when Lopez displayed an easy sweetness that we usually see in Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan. Lopez was especially adept in handling a typical female drunk scene and also a silly episode involving a broken statue's penis. She makes McConaughey, who is still quite hasn't quite found his way in Hollywood, look good.

Handsome and oozing Texas charm, Matthew McConaughey struck gold with A Time To Kill and Ed TV. But, his premature appearance on "Vanity Fair" has proven embarrassing because despite appearing in Contact opposite Jodie Foster, the submarine thriller, U-571 and Spielberg's Amistad, the actor really hasn't jumped to the superstar status that everyone predicted. However, I think his performances as Jodie Foster's thoughtful lover and the rugged, sensual sheriff in Lone Star proves that given the right roles, McConaughey can excel.There are no surprises in The Wedding Planner and I know that you won't be able to keep Jennifer Lopez fans away. So, maybe, her presence might breathe some life into the box office.