Rehab Princess: Rachel Getting Married

Ann Hathaway does a star turn as a recovering addict jumping directly from rehab into the emotional stress of her sister’s wedding. She gives a terrific performance, really remarkable about face for the former Disney princess. Rumors of Oscar are completely justified. Now, this isn’t a lighthearted film – the Reelfan’s hubby heard complaining in the men’s room after the show, something about “I thought it would be funnier!” but when you have a dysfunctional family hosting a wedding, well, the humor is going to be pretty dark. Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) directs and he chooses to show every unvarnished moment of the weekend – no fast cuts to hurry the plot along. Sometimes that’s wonderful, and sometimes you wish you could slip out to the bar with the other guests. Music is great and mostly performed live during the filming – many of the wedding guests are musicians – and there is an oddly engaging dishwasher filling contest. Not something you often see at the movies. Debra Winger makes a rare big screen appearance as the emotionally disconnected mother of the bride, and she is luminous; Bill Irwin, lately one of Elmo’s friends on Sesame Street, touchingly plays the father who just wants everyone to get along. Pretty cool movie for grownups and older teenaged Hathaway fans.