Robin Williams is certainly a very gifted comedian. It would be a sin to classify him as untalented. But somebody needs to send this guy some decent scripts. I think the problem is people feel that all you need to do is cast Robin as the lead, and viola! You've got yourself a hilarious comic romp! Weak writing is weak writing. End of story. The film is not without laughs. I certainly did laugh several times, but as you would expect, most of the good jokes are given away in the trailer. Altogether, "License to Wed" is a predictable romantic comedy filled with lots of sitcom-level humor. It's worth checking out on cable. Like I said, there are some laughs, and watching the gorgeous Mandy Moore certainly doesn't hurt either. But this is one of those comedies you'll probably forget soon after you've seen it.
127 Reviews
Solid C Film
hairysweatysmelly6 July 2007
License to Wed is exactly what I expected it to be when watching the previews. An overall average movie, nothing mind blowing, but also not impossible to watch.
The movie is a little cliché at points and most of it you have seen before in whatever romantic comedy you decide to think of, but there are a few additions to this movie that made it enjoyable for me.
As a huge fan of the TV show "The Office", I went to the theater the other night hoping that the movie would keep me as entertained as the small screen gem does. If this is what you are hoping for, sorry, its a bit of a let down. However, the simple appearance of a couple of "Office" stars is enjoyable.
The only real beef that I have with the movie overall is Robin Williams' sexed up priest character. I can understand what they were trying to do (humor from sex dialogue), but the conversations seemed uncomfortable to me. A priest becoming sexual isn't that far fetched in this day and age, but really, when your movie makes it look like a priest is hitting on a woman in his marriage counseling class in front of her soon to be husband, just rubs me the wrong way.
License to Wed is neither terrible nor wonderful. My recommendation would be to watch it if you really don't care what you watch and just need a popcorn movie to relax. No huge laughs but no huge let downs either.
The movie is a little cliché at points and most of it you have seen before in whatever romantic comedy you decide to think of, but there are a few additions to this movie that made it enjoyable for me.
As a huge fan of the TV show "The Office", I went to the theater the other night hoping that the movie would keep me as entertained as the small screen gem does. If this is what you are hoping for, sorry, its a bit of a let down. However, the simple appearance of a couple of "Office" stars is enjoyable.
The only real beef that I have with the movie overall is Robin Williams' sexed up priest character. I can understand what they were trying to do (humor from sex dialogue), but the conversations seemed uncomfortable to me. A priest becoming sexual isn't that far fetched in this day and age, but really, when your movie makes it look like a priest is hitting on a woman in his marriage counseling class in front of her soon to be husband, just rubs me the wrong way.
License to Wed is neither terrible nor wonderful. My recommendation would be to watch it if you really don't care what you watch and just need a popcorn movie to relax. No huge laughs but no huge let downs either.
Aww, it's all good fun
Smells_Like_Cheese17 July 2007
My friend and I were so excited to see this movie when we saw the trailer to License to Wed, it looked like a fun comedy. But when we heard all the bad reviews, we were a bit hesitant, but we figured that we still wanted to see it and why not? I don't get all the horrible reviews on IMDb, yeah, there were a few things wrong with the movie, but it seemed like nobody really wanted to enjoy this film. I'm not saying this to offend anyone, I just don't get how you could not laugh at least once in this film when it was just a cute romantic comedy that's better than most.
Sadie and Ben are one happy couple, after only six months they feel that they are ready to tie the knot and get married. But Sadie's wishes are to be married in the church her parents got married in and their family minister, Frank. Frank isn't going to give this couple an easy time though, he'll test them from Heaven to Hell to see if they are really ready for marriage and slowly the realize what might be wrong and different in their relationship.
Now, I admit that some of the situations were predictable and unbelievable, but I think if you let go and just have fun, you'll find yourself laughing. This movie was all in good fun; I loved the scene where they have to find out what having kids was like. Those little mechanical babies were so ugly and scary, but so funny! I expected a fun and cute movie and that's what I got with License to Wed, so don't trust the IMDb reviews, just go and have fun!
6/10
Sadie and Ben are one happy couple, after only six months they feel that they are ready to tie the knot and get married. But Sadie's wishes are to be married in the church her parents got married in and their family minister, Frank. Frank isn't going to give this couple an easy time though, he'll test them from Heaven to Hell to see if they are really ready for marriage and slowly the realize what might be wrong and different in their relationship.
Now, I admit that some of the situations were predictable and unbelievable, but I think if you let go and just have fun, you'll find yourself laughing. This movie was all in good fun; I loved the scene where they have to find out what having kids was like. Those little mechanical babies were so ugly and scary, but so funny! I expected a fun and cute movie and that's what I got with License to Wed, so don't trust the IMDb reviews, just go and have fun!
6/10
Not so much
recontramil4 July 2007
This movie was a bit of a bore. I walked in rather neutral with my expectations, and after the first 10 minutes realized that this ball of cheese was not for me. I sat through it all, for the sake of the company I was with.
Mandy Moore and John Krasinski are cute, but very flat characters. There is little or no character development in this film. Robin Williams as Reverend Frank tries to save the show with his humorous antics, but was unfortunately cliché in his attempts. The little boy, Josh Flitter, does an excellent job as the annoyingly forthright "minister in training", as do the other children playing minor roles, but the overall attempt was bland.
The movie neither humorously avoids morals, nor does it end with moral enlightenment. The "lesson" in the end is weak and predictable.
If you're looking for something heartwarming, inspiring, or thought-provoking, turn elsewhere. If you'd like a few cheap laughs with a weak storyline, this could be your film.
I rate it a 2 out of 10.
Mandy Moore and John Krasinski are cute, but very flat characters. There is little or no character development in this film. Robin Williams as Reverend Frank tries to save the show with his humorous antics, but was unfortunately cliché in his attempts. The little boy, Josh Flitter, does an excellent job as the annoyingly forthright "minister in training", as do the other children playing minor roles, but the overall attempt was bland.
The movie neither humorously avoids morals, nor does it end with moral enlightenment. The "lesson" in the end is weak and predictable.
If you're looking for something heartwarming, inspiring, or thought-provoking, turn elsewhere. If you'd like a few cheap laughs with a weak storyline, this could be your film.
I rate it a 2 out of 10.
Unfunny comedy with lackluster Robin Williams
long-ford31 January 2009
Is it too much to expect even mild entertainment from a Robin Williams film. What happened to the comic genius behind 'Good Morning Vietnam'? The man who turned in a reliable dramatic performance in 'Good Will Hunting' is simply lackluster here. Mandy Moore and John Krasinski are a likable couple subjected to some humiliating 'jokes' by priest Williams. The film doesn't even give us enough time to get to know the young couple. This could have been a cute romantic comedy, but the barrage of juvenile material and creepy jokes make it unsuitable for just about all audiences. Avoid.
Overall 2/10
Overall 2/10
amusing at times
MLDinTN13 May 2008
I thought it was an OK comedy. It made me chuckle at times. Sadie and Ben plan to get married, but first must pass Rev Frank's marriage course. The Rev spies on them and sets up silly tests, like carrying around plastic babies that really cry and poop. I thought that was pretty good. All these tests cause the couple to rethink the marriage an let them see are they really right for each other.
I thought Robin Williams was OK. This was his stereotypical character. His apprentice sidekick kid was just creepy. Everyone else in the film was just average.
FINAL VERDICT: If you like these sort of comedies, then check it out.
I thought Robin Williams was OK. This was his stereotypical character. His apprentice sidekick kid was just creepy. Everyone else in the film was just average.
FINAL VERDICT: If you like these sort of comedies, then check it out.
God-awful comedy
Buddy-516 July 2007
"License to Wed" might as well have been called "Meet the Minister," since all the film does is to recycle the nightmare-before-marriage scenario from "Meet the Parents" - albeit with one crucial deviation. Needless to say, lightning rarely strikes twice when it comes to Hollywood happenings and "License to Wed" is no "Meet the Parents." Not by a long shot.
Ben Murphy and Sadie Jones are a young Chicago couple who agree to undergo an intense pre-marital "training course" conducted by an obnoxious local reverend in exchange for being allowed to hold their nuptials at the church Sadie's dearly departed grandfather helped to build. To pass the course, the couple must agree to be abstinent until the wedding night, take care of two fully operational and anatomically correct mechanical infants, and undergo various forms of trauma that even Sigmund Freud himself would have trouble undoing after years of reparative analysis.
As a "Meet the Parents" wannabe, "License to Wed" stumbles right out of the starting gate in that one can imagine suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous humiliation and abuse in order to win the favor of a prospective spouse's PARENTS, but to go through all that just to placate her MINISTER? I don't think so. In no time flat, the laughter turns to frustration as we find ourselves wondering why Ben doesn't just tell the dear old Reverend to go take a hike - or worse - and then seek out some religious establishment with less stringent requirements for walking down the aisle.
And let's face it, there's something more than a trifle off-putting and creepy about an unwed man-of-the-cloth running around with a young boy as his personal protégé and sidekick, planting listening devices in young couple's bedrooms. Even for an alleged comic fantasy such as this one, that may be just a bridge farther than most people will be willing to go in the queasiness department.
John Krasinski and Mandy Moore make an appealing enough couple, and it isn't really their fault that they've been handed a screenplay - written by no fewer than three writers, a sure sign of trouble - filled with cornball humor, heavy-handed slapstick and unappetizing secondary characters. In the role of Reverend Frank, Robin Williams, all cutesy mannerisms and third-rate mugging, hits a new low in teeth-grinding unctuousness, although one likes to believe that, if director Ken Kwapis could have gotten the actor to dial back his performance even a little, this might have been at least a tolerable movie. As it is, though, "License to Wed" is a painful experience that you will have no trouble leaving stranded at the altar.
Ben Murphy and Sadie Jones are a young Chicago couple who agree to undergo an intense pre-marital "training course" conducted by an obnoxious local reverend in exchange for being allowed to hold their nuptials at the church Sadie's dearly departed grandfather helped to build. To pass the course, the couple must agree to be abstinent until the wedding night, take care of two fully operational and anatomically correct mechanical infants, and undergo various forms of trauma that even Sigmund Freud himself would have trouble undoing after years of reparative analysis.
As a "Meet the Parents" wannabe, "License to Wed" stumbles right out of the starting gate in that one can imagine suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous humiliation and abuse in order to win the favor of a prospective spouse's PARENTS, but to go through all that just to placate her MINISTER? I don't think so. In no time flat, the laughter turns to frustration as we find ourselves wondering why Ben doesn't just tell the dear old Reverend to go take a hike - or worse - and then seek out some religious establishment with less stringent requirements for walking down the aisle.
And let's face it, there's something more than a trifle off-putting and creepy about an unwed man-of-the-cloth running around with a young boy as his personal protégé and sidekick, planting listening devices in young couple's bedrooms. Even for an alleged comic fantasy such as this one, that may be just a bridge farther than most people will be willing to go in the queasiness department.
John Krasinski and Mandy Moore make an appealing enough couple, and it isn't really their fault that they've been handed a screenplay - written by no fewer than three writers, a sure sign of trouble - filled with cornball humor, heavy-handed slapstick and unappetizing secondary characters. In the role of Reverend Frank, Robin Williams, all cutesy mannerisms and third-rate mugging, hits a new low in teeth-grinding unctuousness, although one likes to believe that, if director Ken Kwapis could have gotten the actor to dial back his performance even a little, this might have been at least a tolerable movie. As it is, though, "License to Wed" is a painful experience that you will have no trouble leaving stranded at the altar.
I didn't think it was that bad actually
TheLittleSongbird2 August 2010
License to Wed is no masterpiece in any shape or form, but I didn't think it is a bad movie. If I had to sum it up in one word, I would say uneven. Because it is. The story is very predictable and has some dull and unbelievable parts to it, I personally could have done without the part with the "creepy" babies and the script is weak in places. Then there is the pacing, some of the movie does move briskly, but there are moments where it is dull as well, while the direction lacks solidity.
That said, it is nicely filmed, the scenery in Jamaica was especially ravishing, and the soundtrack was good. While the film itself is uneven, there are some funny moments such as the introduction to Robin Williams's character and when Ben blows the trumpet into the bug that had been placed into the room. In terms of performances, Robin Williams gives the best one and provides the film's funniest moments. Mandy Moore and John Krassinski aren't as convincing but they are pretty cute.
Overall, it was an okay comedy, it had its dull moments but see it for Williams. 6/10 Bethany Cox
That said, it is nicely filmed, the scenery in Jamaica was especially ravishing, and the soundtrack was good. While the film itself is uneven, there are some funny moments such as the introduction to Robin Williams's character and when Ben blows the trumpet into the bug that had been placed into the room. In terms of performances, Robin Williams gives the best one and provides the film's funniest moments. Mandy Moore and John Krassinski aren't as convincing but they are pretty cute.
Overall, it was an okay comedy, it had its dull moments but see it for Williams. 6/10 Bethany Cox
A disaster of a comedy. . .almost better as a horror film.
wingsandsword5 July 2007
This movie was terrible.
I was more than a little tempted to just get up and walk out early in the movie, when it just wasn't funny. I thought maybe it would pick up and really get going soon, it didn't. It tries to be a romantic comedy, and what little chemistry exists between the couple is ruined by Robin Williams trying to be funny while doing unfunny things. Instead he comes off as a creepy, sadistic voyeur with a phony veneer of humor (and a minister having a prepubescent boy sidekick with him at apparently all times day and night is more than a little creepy in it's own right).
There isn't a single funny joke in the film that's not in the trailer, not one. There are a lot of gags that fall flat though.
The whole thing made me miss the time when Robin Williams in a movie was a sign it was going to be a great film.
In retrospect, I should have gone with my hunch and just walked out early, and saved myself the time.
I was more than a little tempted to just get up and walk out early in the movie, when it just wasn't funny. I thought maybe it would pick up and really get going soon, it didn't. It tries to be a romantic comedy, and what little chemistry exists between the couple is ruined by Robin Williams trying to be funny while doing unfunny things. Instead he comes off as a creepy, sadistic voyeur with a phony veneer of humor (and a minister having a prepubescent boy sidekick with him at apparently all times day and night is more than a little creepy in it's own right).
There isn't a single funny joke in the film that's not in the trailer, not one. There are a lot of gags that fall flat though.
The whole thing made me miss the time when Robin Williams in a movie was a sign it was going to be a great film.
In retrospect, I should have gone with my hunch and just walked out early, and saved myself the time.
A license to laugh and feel good, that's what this film brings
inkblot115 July 2007
Sadie (Mandy Moore) and Ben (John Kraskinski) meet in a coffee shop line. They are soon smitten with each other, eventually moving in together. When Ben proposes at Sadie's parents' anniversary party, everyone is happy. Yet, although Ben would like to get married in the Caribbean, Sadie has her heart set on being married at a church called St. Augustine's. Ben soon realizes that things are not going to be easy. That's because all engaged couples at the church must go through a rigorous premarital counseling program designed by Pastor Frank (Robin Williams). There will be no sex until the wedding, Pastor Frank decrees. There are sessions with other couples, where they play free word association games and are set up to pick fights with one another. Pastor Frank has a few secret strategies up his sleeve, too. At the end of the day, will Sadie and Ben be able to stick together? This is a movie that can be described by the phrase " a good time will be had by all". There is romance, humor, slapstick, and touching moments. The cast is very nice, with Williams doing a great job as the overly zealous pastor. The Chicago area setting is nice, the costumes adequate (I felt some of Moore's outfits were a bit lacking), and the production values quite fine. If you are drawn to romantic comedy, you will not want to skip a showing of this film. It is a good new addition to the repertoire. Fans of Williams will not want to miss this one, either, as he gives everyone a license to laugh and feel good about life.
Beware Reverend Frank...and this movie
keiichi734 July 2007
I'm going to say something that no one in License to Wed has the guts (or the brains) to say - Reverend Frank belongs behind bars. Frank is supposed to be a goofy and likable guy who grows on us despite his unorthodox methods toward couples coaching. Unfortunately, the movie goes to such extremes that we are not so much charmed by Frank, rather we are terrified by him. The man is a menace, and the fact that nobody seems to realize it except for one character makes everyone in this movie come across as completely oblivious.
Young lovers Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) have just made plans to take their relationship to the next level and get married. It's always been Sadie's dream to be married at the family church with Reverend Frank (Robin Williams) doing the ceremony. Before they can get married, however, Frank forces the young lovers into a bizarre program where they will have to pass a series of tests to see if they are right for each other. Frank, along with his young student (Josh Flitter), sets up a series of challenges and simulations that are supposed to represent the difficulties that the couple will face in the future together. While it sounds reasonable enough in theory, the Reverend goes so far as to invading their private lives, even bugging Ben and Sadie's apartment with concealed recording equipment, letting him hear everything that happens when he's not around. Ben's patience with Frank's extreme program starts to wear thin, and the young couple start to contemplate if things are as compatible between them as they initially thought.
There's nothing really wrong with License to Wed whenever Reverend Frank is not on the screen. During those times, it's a perfectly ordinary romantic comedy that plays by the rules. Unfortunately, Frank is a major character, and the movie devotes too much time to him. He's an evil, manipulative man, and we're supposed to laugh at him, because he's played by Robin Williams, and he's constantly shooting off zippy one-liners. If this character had been played straight, I have no doubt believing his Reverend Frank would be right up there with his "deranged" performances in Insomnia and One Hour Photo. At one point, he has a 10-year-old kid break into the couple's apartment while they're away at a session, and conceal a wire tap in their home. The character of Frank comes across as someone who enjoys tormenting young couples who just want to get married, and is not below employing children to do his dirty work so that he remains off the hook. If this sounds like a jovial, comical character to you, I highly suggest counseling.
My question is why does nobody else in this movie but Ben realize just how evil this guy is? And when Ben discovers the wire tap, why doesn't he make a bigger deal about it? More importantly, why doesn't Sadie? When Ben finally does tell her about the hidden recording equipment, Sadie doesn't even react to this revelation, nor does she even act offended. Are we to believe this woman doesn't even care that this man has been violating their privacy? If I seem to be putting too much stock in one character, I can't help it. He is what makes this entire movie go wrong. The character hangs over the movie like a black shadow, and causes everyone to become incredibly stupid, because no one can admit to themselves that this man is wrong. Even Ben, who distrusts him from the moment he lays eyes on Frank, winds up liking the guy before the movie's over.
It's hard to get behind a cast when they're forced to play clueless morons for the sake of the plot. Mandy Moore, once again finds herself playing a woman who refuses to even look at the obvious until the screenplay feels its convenient for her to do so. After Because I Said So and now this, I'm starting to wonder if she has some kind of bizarre fascination with women who make bad decisions for no reason other than to move the plot along. John Krasinski is passable, but not much more than that. He seems to kind of be playing a Ben Stiller-type character, only without Stiller's enthusiasm. The rest of the cast spend most of the time in the background, not contributing much of anything. That's because Reverend Frank keeps on hijacking the movie at every conceivable opportunity. It gets to the point we start wondering if we're watching a movie, or if we're watching one of Williams' lesser improv performances.
License to Wed is a movie that goes so extremely off course, and it's all because of one man. If he had just been written a different way, the film could have been salvaged. As it is, he drags the entire movie down with him. It's amazing how the wrong lead character can affect everyone and everything around them. When the movie came to its predetermined happy ending, I didn't feel joy. I felt sorry for this couple that this guy was still a part of their lives, and imagined what hell awaited them in the future. I'm sure we'll hear all about it if we're unfortunate enough to get a sequel.
Young lovers Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) have just made plans to take their relationship to the next level and get married. It's always been Sadie's dream to be married at the family church with Reverend Frank (Robin Williams) doing the ceremony. Before they can get married, however, Frank forces the young lovers into a bizarre program where they will have to pass a series of tests to see if they are right for each other. Frank, along with his young student (Josh Flitter), sets up a series of challenges and simulations that are supposed to represent the difficulties that the couple will face in the future together. While it sounds reasonable enough in theory, the Reverend goes so far as to invading their private lives, even bugging Ben and Sadie's apartment with concealed recording equipment, letting him hear everything that happens when he's not around. Ben's patience with Frank's extreme program starts to wear thin, and the young couple start to contemplate if things are as compatible between them as they initially thought.
There's nothing really wrong with License to Wed whenever Reverend Frank is not on the screen. During those times, it's a perfectly ordinary romantic comedy that plays by the rules. Unfortunately, Frank is a major character, and the movie devotes too much time to him. He's an evil, manipulative man, and we're supposed to laugh at him, because he's played by Robin Williams, and he's constantly shooting off zippy one-liners. If this character had been played straight, I have no doubt believing his Reverend Frank would be right up there with his "deranged" performances in Insomnia and One Hour Photo. At one point, he has a 10-year-old kid break into the couple's apartment while they're away at a session, and conceal a wire tap in their home. The character of Frank comes across as someone who enjoys tormenting young couples who just want to get married, and is not below employing children to do his dirty work so that he remains off the hook. If this sounds like a jovial, comical character to you, I highly suggest counseling.
My question is why does nobody else in this movie but Ben realize just how evil this guy is? And when Ben discovers the wire tap, why doesn't he make a bigger deal about it? More importantly, why doesn't Sadie? When Ben finally does tell her about the hidden recording equipment, Sadie doesn't even react to this revelation, nor does she even act offended. Are we to believe this woman doesn't even care that this man has been violating their privacy? If I seem to be putting too much stock in one character, I can't help it. He is what makes this entire movie go wrong. The character hangs over the movie like a black shadow, and causes everyone to become incredibly stupid, because no one can admit to themselves that this man is wrong. Even Ben, who distrusts him from the moment he lays eyes on Frank, winds up liking the guy before the movie's over.
It's hard to get behind a cast when they're forced to play clueless morons for the sake of the plot. Mandy Moore, once again finds herself playing a woman who refuses to even look at the obvious until the screenplay feels its convenient for her to do so. After Because I Said So and now this, I'm starting to wonder if she has some kind of bizarre fascination with women who make bad decisions for no reason other than to move the plot along. John Krasinski is passable, but not much more than that. He seems to kind of be playing a Ben Stiller-type character, only without Stiller's enthusiasm. The rest of the cast spend most of the time in the background, not contributing much of anything. That's because Reverend Frank keeps on hijacking the movie at every conceivable opportunity. It gets to the point we start wondering if we're watching a movie, or if we're watching one of Williams' lesser improv performances.
License to Wed is a movie that goes so extremely off course, and it's all because of one man. If he had just been written a different way, the film could have been salvaged. As it is, he drags the entire movie down with him. It's amazing how the wrong lead character can affect everyone and everything around them. When the movie came to its predetermined happy ending, I didn't feel joy. I felt sorry for this couple that this guy was still a part of their lives, and imagined what hell awaited them in the future. I'm sure we'll hear all about it if we're unfortunate enough to get a sequel.
Has one or two flaws but overall it was hilarious
whosyourdrummer18 July 2007
OK so I saw this movie yesterday and to be honest I went in here not expecting much..but wow was I blown away? The movie starts off with a bang and just leaves you to there..it made me laugh the entire way through..OK so the innuendos about stealing second base were kind of stupid...but besides that I loved it. Mandy Moore did great and looked it..the groom to be did awesome as well...and Robin Williams as always made me laugh very hard. My audience all loved the movie when the obviously funny parts came along and even some of the jokes you had to be on your feet to catch "Be chill don't kill, yes even you O.J." so overall the love story was fantastic and the comedy aspect of it was hilarious as well. I just loved this movie so much.
Decent rom com
davispittman14 February 2016
License to Wed is a pretty good romantic comedy. I loved Mandy Moore and John Krasinski as the leads. And of course the late Robin Williams was great in his role as reverend Frank. I do love the comedy in this film, Robin Williams really does make this movie! I like how the script was written, it was comedic, romantic, and very sweet, it had moments of true heart, that was very refreshing to see. The characters in this movie do have good chemistry. No it's not the most original in the history of movies, but yes it is funny and kinda amusing. I'm not sure what the deal was with people from the office being in this movie, but like so many actors on the office appeared in here. But overall, this film was entertaining and warm hearted, no it was not perfect, yes, some scenes did drag a little, but all in all, it was a good time. 7/10.
Only movie I ever walked out on in my life
darling-girl24 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was just plain bad. But since I'm bothering to write this, I should go into more detail than that, right? This movie was tacky and offensive, all the more tragic because of the hilarity potential of Robin Williams and the likability potential of Mandy Moore and Jon Krasinski. Synopsis: Two cuties get together. (Aw, sweet.) Then comes the messed up marital counselling of Moore's bizarro pastor, played by Robin Williams. Williams, in all his ridiculous antics, is aided and abetted by a creepy little kid (sorry, no offense meant to the child actor playing the kid -- I'm sure the creepiness was all in the role) who tries to be cutely precocious, but basically comes off as an annoying, know-it-all, creepy, snot-nosed little brat. I only watched half an hour into the movie because it was so cringe-inducing, distasteful, unfunny and insulting to relationships. I walked out and caught the last half of The Brave One. Unless you are amused by bathroom humour, skip it. You will thank me.
Disappointing
debwoodrum3 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I really really wanted to like this movie, in theory, it has all the right elements for a strong comedy, but I was very disappointed.
I went to see this movie today at a 12:30 p.m. showing. The audience was a good mix of older couples, young marrieds, teenage girls, a few stray singles, a family or two--a well-rounded audience, let's say. That well-rounded audience spent an hour and a half with Robin Williams, god of comedy, with not a single good laugh. There were a handful of mild chuckles over things like poop jokes and a man getting smacked in the face with a baseball, but that was all we could muster.
Mandy Moore was luminous (but not given much to do, I wish she'd pick better roles, I really want to like her), her fiancé utterly and instantly forgettable in every way, the rest of the very talented cast (The best man was delightful, his relationship with his wife hilarious, and he was given all of 4 minutes of screen time) hopelessly misused, and Robin Williams as unfunny as the man can possibly get. The "plot", so to speak, consisted of Robin Williams as a minister conspiring to make the future marriage of Mandy Moore and the other one strong by torturing them at every turn and doing such charming things as bugging their apartment to ensure they were not having forbidden premarital sex. It was creepy and disturbing and predictable and boring, and, the worst sin of all for a supposed comedy, not funny.
I went to see this movie today at a 12:30 p.m. showing. The audience was a good mix of older couples, young marrieds, teenage girls, a few stray singles, a family or two--a well-rounded audience, let's say. That well-rounded audience spent an hour and a half with Robin Williams, god of comedy, with not a single good laugh. There were a handful of mild chuckles over things like poop jokes and a man getting smacked in the face with a baseball, but that was all we could muster.
Mandy Moore was luminous (but not given much to do, I wish she'd pick better roles, I really want to like her), her fiancé utterly and instantly forgettable in every way, the rest of the very talented cast (The best man was delightful, his relationship with his wife hilarious, and he was given all of 4 minutes of screen time) hopelessly misused, and Robin Williams as unfunny as the man can possibly get. The "plot", so to speak, consisted of Robin Williams as a minister conspiring to make the future marriage of Mandy Moore and the other one strong by torturing them at every turn and doing such charming things as bugging their apartment to ensure they were not having forbidden premarital sex. It was creepy and disturbing and predictable and boring, and, the worst sin of all for a supposed comedy, not funny.
Holy Horror.
tfrizzell13 August 2007
Catholic priest Robin Williams (!?) makes couple Mandy Moore and John Krasinski go through a crash course for those about to be married. If they fail the course then he can block the duet from getting hitched. And they say Hollywood is fresh out of innovative ideas. Totally unwanted and dreadful would-be comedy that uses up all its energy and possible assets early on with stupid situation after stupid situation. Even the performers seem like they know they are in a horrid movie that seems so much longer than it really is. As usual with films of the type, we have sitcom scenarios that are hard enough to make interesting over a half hour time slot let alone a cinematic feature which is three times as long. Break out the holy water and exorcise this celluloid. 2 stars out of 5.
marital bliss...
rivertam265 July 2007
This is one of those movies thats all concept and all sorts of chaotic execution. It's obvious from the list of screenwriters they employed to finish up this screenplay it was a messy situation. And I'm sure they saw the potential at keeping it alive because of some key scenes and jokes that make the movie worthwhile. It's concept is a funny one especially nearing the big wedding date weekend of 7-7-07. It's all pretty clever on their part to release this pre martial themed comedy against Transformers as well for people with a completely different taste. Look what I'm trying to say by stating all of this is that the movie works. It's not great but it has enough of the good to make it worth seeing even more than once. The characters are endearing, the situations funny and sentiment is effective. Mandy moore is underused as the female lead, Robin Williams is funnier than he has been in a while but the film really belongs to John Kransinski whom makes a handsome and involving leading man. The film is a little silly and unrealistic in an 80's style sort of way but it gets what it aims for and leaves you with a big dorky smile on your face.
Pointless and Boring
bob-rutzel-128 December 2007
Sadie (Moore) and Ben (Krasinski) want to get married, but Reverend Frank (Williams) wants to put them thru some tests to see if they are really suited for each other.
I don't know if I have ever subscribed to a Worst Movie list, but this one will be in the top-10 for sure. Bad script, bad acting, bad direction and no one noticed? Well, I did. Gone are the days I would run to a Robin Williams movie. Gone. Gone. Gone. Either he was scripted or is just losing it, and I don't feel he is an actor who can be scripted. What does that leave? Huh?
Nothing funny happened, no good or clever lines, just a constant stream of nothingness. I could go on and on how horrible this was, but that would be pointless and boring.
Violence: No, Sex:No,Nudity:No, Language: No
I don't know if I have ever subscribed to a Worst Movie list, but this one will be in the top-10 for sure. Bad script, bad acting, bad direction and no one noticed? Well, I did. Gone are the days I would run to a Robin Williams movie. Gone. Gone. Gone. Either he was scripted or is just losing it, and I don't feel he is an actor who can be scripted. What does that leave? Huh?
Nothing funny happened, no good or clever lines, just a constant stream of nothingness. I could go on and on how horrible this was, but that would be pointless and boring.
Violence: No, Sex:No,Nudity:No, Language: No
Light hearted comedy
iohefy-227 June 2007
Went to see a preview of this movie and it was real cute. Robin Williams was not his usual overbearing self and the rest of the cast was very good. There were many laughs in this farce, but it was totally enjoyable. I am not familiar with Mandy Moore but she is delightful in this movie and should see a lot of rolls coming her way. If you want to see a movie with not the greatest story in the world but is entertaining and will not require a lot of thought, go see this one as you will get your monies worth out of this romp. There were a lot of familiar faces in this movie and I enjoyed them all. It is pretty much a winner.
Sacriligeously unfunny
george.schmidt9 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
LICENSE TO WED (2007) * Robin Williams, Many Moore, John Krasinski, Eric Christian Olsen, Christine Taylor, Josh Flitter, DeRay Davis, Peter Strauss, Roxanne Hart, Grace Zabriskie, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Rachael Harris, Brian Baumgartner, Bob Balaban. Vapid, sit- com-y high concept comedy about a young couple's nuptials being put to the test by the bride-to-be's family minister (a surprisingly sedate Williams) who proves to be a holy terror in the process. Woefully unfunny screenplay by Ken Barker, Tim Rasmussen, Vince Di Meglio and Wayne Lloyd and underwhelming direction by Ken Kwapis (who has collaborated with Krasinski and his THE OFFICE cronies many submitted to this mess to boot previously, with such higher hilarious results).
Wonderful, Robin William is back in comedy.
dobbin-47 December 2007
Robin Williams career has definitely gone done in the last few years but starting with Man of the Year and then this Robin Williams is definitely back on track movie wise. This movie is about two young people about to get married but before the wedding have to go through a test to see if they are right for each other. The movie is laugh a minute and I think that even though this movie is not exactly ever going to be in the top 250 it is a must watch for fans of such movies as Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. Overall this movie is a must watch and I loved it is is good to just sit down and relax after a long hard week of work. I rate this comedy 74% and I hope Robin Williams next movie is as good as this.
My sister went to see this and described it as merely "alright." She was being overly generous.
Carycomic15 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Robin Williams has a few stinkers in his otherwise distinguished career: TOYS and DEATH TO SMOOCHY are chief among them. But, this piece of crap is un-funnier than 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN and LADYKILLERS put together. Both of which I walked out in the middle of...just as I did with this one.
I mean, something must be terribly wrong if I can sit through forty-minutes of Robin Williams' one-liners and literally not laugh, even once! Those butt-ugly Cabbage Patch robots, I can understand. Social studies teachers use the same technique, in real life, among high school students. Although, the dolls they hand out probably don't resemble bald versions of "Chuckie" from CHILD'S PLAY.
Yet, illegally bugging the engaged couple's apartment, with the help of an adolescent Gomez Addams, after innovatively teaching some other kids about the Ten Commandments? Correct me if I wrong. But, I think the official term for that is "contributing to the delinquency of a minor." And, cops can arrest one for that!
So, even if this review gets voted as "zero-out-of-a-hundred found it useful," I'm still urging my fellow movie-goers to boycott this movie, and spend their money on a full-fledged vacation. Preferably, in Amish Country, Pennysylvania, where's there guaranteed to be no movie theaters showing this!!!
I mean, something must be terribly wrong if I can sit through forty-minutes of Robin Williams' one-liners and literally not laugh, even once! Those butt-ugly Cabbage Patch robots, I can understand. Social studies teachers use the same technique, in real life, among high school students. Although, the dolls they hand out probably don't resemble bald versions of "Chuckie" from CHILD'S PLAY.
Yet, illegally bugging the engaged couple's apartment, with the help of an adolescent Gomez Addams, after innovatively teaching some other kids about the Ten Commandments? Correct me if I wrong. But, I think the official term for that is "contributing to the delinquency of a minor." And, cops can arrest one for that!
So, even if this review gets voted as "zero-out-of-a-hundred found it useful," I'm still urging my fellow movie-goers to boycott this movie, and spend their money on a full-fledged vacation. Preferably, in Amish Country, Pennysylvania, where's there guaranteed to be no movie theaters showing this!!!
A cute fun date Movie
tiffanymannes8 July 2007
I LOVED this film!! I was laughing so hard at parts I couldn't catch my breath!! Go see it if you have kids you will laugh so hard! This would be a good date movie, or a good night out with the girls! There were appearances from several OFFICE actors which makes it funnier! I really enjoyed the movie, as for everyone having problems with the priest, its a FICTIONAL movie! If you want to laugh go see this, if you want to see something that is REAL go see a documentary! Hey there is even one out right now!! I always laugh at people who go in NOT liking the idea and come out surprised that they don't like it. If you want to laugh, and hard, this is the one for you! Enjoy
It's been a while...But not good enough
jpschapira28 August 2007
There's a kid in this film that concerns me. He stays up until late in the evening listening to conversations that are not his business, he travels to Jamaica without his parents
He's just a kid, and the first time we meet him he says: "Reverend Frank is everywhere". And who is Reverend Frank? A guy who makes wedding preparation courses to see if people are ready to get married
Maybe the kid is his sinful son or something like that.
For Ben's (John Krasinski) bad luck, Sadie (Mandy Moore) wants to get married where their parents got married a long time ago; and that's Reverend Frank's church, so they have to do the course. For our good luck, the Reverend is played by Robin Williams, with the charm only the best actor can put to a role as annoying as his And if you think he's exaggerating in this film or that he is over the top; think again and watch "Man of the year".
Besides the kid (Josh Flitter) and the Reverend, we find more annoying people that Ben and Sadie meet during the course. In fact, you could say "License to wed" is a movie about a couple who can't get married because of the annoying human beings around them. You could also say that is more of a comedy than a romantic comedy; or at least that's what the screenplay makes it look like. Don't get me wrong, there is a romantic element; but is more of an element to create comedy than an element by itself.
In this posture, there are two scenes of impressive comic timing. One occurs during a family reunion to discuss some things about the wedding; the other one inside of a car. Both scenes are made better by the leads Krasinski and Moore; and if Krasinski didn't have those expressions and Moore wasn't so natural and winning, we wouldn't even feel the romance.
I must mention the wasted talent in the cast, actors who look like they are part of a big joke Christine Taylor as Moore's sister, she does nothing; Peter Strauss as Moore's father does a bit more; Grace Zabriskie as Moore's grandma, I think she speaks four lines. Anyway, the rest of the family is really unimportant here.
The film, with no photographic tricks or stunts, was directed by a guy from television, Ken Kwapis. I seriously don't know what got him in to this film, but he achieves a final scene that plays as a nice distortion of the clichéd romantic comedy ending. If you tolerated the whole film, that scene is refreshing and uplifting; because of the honest writing and the exotic setting It had been a while since I had watched a contagious ending in a romantic comedy.
For Ben's (John Krasinski) bad luck, Sadie (Mandy Moore) wants to get married where their parents got married a long time ago; and that's Reverend Frank's church, so they have to do the course. For our good luck, the Reverend is played by Robin Williams, with the charm only the best actor can put to a role as annoying as his And if you think he's exaggerating in this film or that he is over the top; think again and watch "Man of the year".
Besides the kid (Josh Flitter) and the Reverend, we find more annoying people that Ben and Sadie meet during the course. In fact, you could say "License to wed" is a movie about a couple who can't get married because of the annoying human beings around them. You could also say that is more of a comedy than a romantic comedy; or at least that's what the screenplay makes it look like. Don't get me wrong, there is a romantic element; but is more of an element to create comedy than an element by itself.
In this posture, there are two scenes of impressive comic timing. One occurs during a family reunion to discuss some things about the wedding; the other one inside of a car. Both scenes are made better by the leads Krasinski and Moore; and if Krasinski didn't have those expressions and Moore wasn't so natural and winning, we wouldn't even feel the romance.
I must mention the wasted talent in the cast, actors who look like they are part of a big joke Christine Taylor as Moore's sister, she does nothing; Peter Strauss as Moore's father does a bit more; Grace Zabriskie as Moore's grandma, I think she speaks four lines. Anyway, the rest of the family is really unimportant here.
The film, with no photographic tricks or stunts, was directed by a guy from television, Ken Kwapis. I seriously don't know what got him in to this film, but he achieves a final scene that plays as a nice distortion of the clichéd romantic comedy ending. If you tolerated the whole film, that scene is refreshing and uplifting; because of the honest writing and the exotic setting It had been a while since I had watched a contagious ending in a romantic comedy.
Love John, Horrible Movie.
littleingenue17 December 2007
John Krasinski alone, cannot save this movie from being one of the worst of the year. It also reassures me that Mandy Moore can't act and Robin Williams can't seem to stop being an annoying asshole in every role he plays.
In Linsence To Wed, Ben and Sadie (Krasinski and Moore) plan to get married at her childhood church. Before they can get married there, they have to complete a series of tests. This movie is just another predictable, stupid, and a hardly funny comedy.
Also, the only humour in this movie is either slapstick or plain stupid jokes. Basically, this movie is a bust, don't see it, you'll be very disappointed, its just another horrible excuse for a romantic comedy. I did not enjoy this movie at all.
In Linsence To Wed, Ben and Sadie (Krasinski and Moore) plan to get married at her childhood church. Before they can get married there, they have to complete a series of tests. This movie is just another predictable, stupid, and a hardly funny comedy.
Also, the only humour in this movie is either slapstick or plain stupid jokes. Basically, this movie is a bust, don't see it, you'll be very disappointed, its just another horrible excuse for a romantic comedy. I did not enjoy this movie at all.
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