Destination Wedding (2018)

Written and directed by Victor Levin, Destination Wedding is a film that heavily relies on the charms of the leads. Thankfully, those leads are Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder, two people I enjoy seeing in movies, and the script definitely plays to their strengths, with the former being rather level-headed and stoic while the latter appears more neurotic and . . . flighty (there's a better word, I realise that, but my brain is refusing to let me find it just now).

The basic plot sees Lindsay (Ryder) and Frank (Reeves), after a first encounter that doesn't set them on a path to friendship, realising that they are on the way to the same destination wedding. Frank's brother is the groom, and he used to date Lindsay at one point. The two don't really want to be there, and the film shows them complaining about many of the scheduled activities while rather obviously developing an affection for one another.

There's no getting around the fact that this is about as slight as movies get. I noted down some of the supporting cast members (such as D. Rosh Wright, Greg Lucey, DJ Dallenbach, and Ted Dubost) but that was just out of sheer politeness. This is a rom-com that boasts the opportunity to hang out with two fun leads and pretend that we're all far too cynical and smart to be swayed by any nonsensical notions of romance, until notions of romance come up.

The thing is, you see, that was more than enough to keep me very happy from start to finish. I am not sure of how many other people will enjoy this as much as I did but I can only ever give my own reaction. This was wonderful. I laughed a lot more at Destination Wedding than I did at numerous major comedy releases over the past few years, and a lot of that is simply down to the performances of the leads.

That's not to take away from the work by Levin, who directs capably and provides a script full of wonderful exchanges. Pare down a couple of scenes and this could easily be a play, because the focus is always on the dialogue and the performances, with two people making the kind of jaded observations that most of us have made, at one time or another, while attending a wedding or party. You either know too much about some of the people involved or you don't know nearly enough. Both levels of information change your viewpoint of the proceedings, allowing you to feel slightly removed from things as you consider what goes on when the balloons are not in place and the confetti has been vacuumed up.

Your enjoyment of the movie, however, will depend on how much you enjoy Reeves and Ryder, who both give effortlessly wonderful turns. Both have returned to a state of being generally adored by everyone so I don't see many disliking this. Although the alternative title could have easily been Keanu & Winona Go To A Wedding.

It's funny, it's fun, and it's just under 90 minutes. An easy choice to make when you're looking for something to watch this evening.

8/10

You can buy the movie here.
Americans can buy it here.