After taking aim at war, western movies, country music, Raymond Chandler and Bergmanesque psychodrama, Robert Altman points his stinging lens at the institution of marriage and ALMOST hits a bullseye. The "plot" is simple: the gathering of two disparate families for a hopelessly stuffy wedding. A WEDDING, with its large cast and intersecting story lines has the look and feel of a classic Altman film but really doesn't jell. As the bride's parents, Paul Dooley and Carol Burnett are very funny --- with Burnett doing a less demented version of her Eunice TV character. Geraldine Chaplin, as a wedding coordinator of questionable sexuality is another big plus. Mia Farrow, as the nearly mute sister of the bride, is quite funny once you realize what she's been up to. A lot of other performers like Dina Merrill, Desi Arnaz Jr., Pat McCormick simply get lost in the mix.
Review of A Wedding
