"Shotgun Wedding" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Well, I am sure I will get slammed to the wall and back with my review of ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Let me preface this by saying that I had already made comments to others about this film - based on the trailer alone and not having actually seen it - and I can tell you that those comments still stand.

For those not familiar with this formulaic rom-com, starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, they play Darcy and Tom, respectively, who pull their families together for a destination wedding, only to have the ceremony get sabotaged when gunmen take everyone hostage. Naturally, all of that is taking place while Lopez and Duhamel are on another part of the island, questioning whether or not they are actually right for each other. Once they realize what is going on they have to help each other long enough to stop the kidnappers. I am sorry but everything in this film was predictable.

Here are a few of my key issues with this film (note - SPOILER ALERT!):

In the first few minutes of the film, Duhamel ‘forgets’ the rehearsal dinner? He falls into the water at the same time but proceeds to go to the dinner with wet hair? Also in this film is Jennifer Coolidge, playing Duhamel’s mom, Carol, and she gives a rusty old cake knife to Lopez as a gift, in what is supposed to be a funny moment? Carol also later in the film, as she and the other guests are all held hostage in the resort pool, proceeds to stand up and give a speech about deserving to live, then the others follow? During an escape/runaway sequence, Lopez’s character somehow gets hold of a grenade with the pin pulled out and yet she manages to keep hold of it while running, going down a zip-line, and more (including Duhamel hitting one with a baseball bat) without ever blowing themselves up? Right…and finally, the most stupid thing is at the end when everyone starts singing in the pool and the enemy joins in as well.

I have actually read a few other reviews where people say the film has some redeeming qualities…where, pray tell? The only thing is perhaps Lenny Kravitz, who does a fairly decent acting job. Anyway, that is my take on it…