Rachel Getting Married

I feel like the odd man out on a lot of movies here. Everyone seems to enjoy movies that I don't and vise versa. I really didn't get this movie. I mean, I get it. I understand the gist of it, I just don't see what made this such a good flick.

It's about Kim who takes a leave from her rehab center to attend her sister Rachel's wedding. We follow her while she tries to make amends and does some things that I completely didn't agree with. During her sister's rehearsal dinner she gave a speech that was all about her and not about her sister or her fiance. That was painful to watch.

Not only that but there was a long part at the end where we are just watching people dance at the wedding. For me, I didn't really like it. I'd say it was just ok.

I'm gonna go ahead and say that this is a love it or hate it kinda movie (I'm giving it 3 stars for how much I loved it, and 2 stars because I understand why other people don't love it). Personally, I thought it was just fantastic. I thought the acting was incredible (Anne Hathaway is not my favorite, but she really stepped it up in this film), and that the script was thoughtful and engaging. Now, I think the major complaint from those who did not enjoy the movie, is that it's slow. And the fact is, they're right ... it is slow! It's a real slice of life kinda film, and it practically happens in real-time. So, if you don't like slow, you probably won't enjoy it and you'll probably find yourself bored within the first 20 minutes. But, if you think you can appreciate a true to life (if not a bit exaggerated) film, with wonderful and beautifully developed characters, and you feel that you have the patience for it, I'd say you should watch Rachel Getting Married.

Usually when I see a movie, I'm picking up all the emotions that are thrown out as I move along through it, and I go through all of them, just as the characters do. Yet, there was something in Rachel Getting Married preempting me from doing that, and I'm not sure why.

I actually thought this movie was a romantic comedy at first, and I think that was the result of the name of the film, as well as its star, Anne Hathaway. Despite being about a wedding, it really wasn't very romantic at its heart, and it definitely wasn't comedic.

Hathaway's character, Kym, gets let out of rehab to attend her sister Rachel's wedding. Coming home, she runs into most of the things that made her a user before. Getting out of rehab and coming home would be tough enough, but to do it during a close family member's wedding would be just too much emotion. Despite the fact that I didn't pick up the emotions as I expected I would, I did find every actor and actress in the film to be incredible. There was at no point that it seemed like i was watching a movie. I felt the whole time as if I was watching this family go through such a heartwreching time.

Director Jonathan Demme and writer Jenny Lumet create so cleverly so that we never find out any secrets until we're supposed to. We're never really even sure through much of the film how it was that Kym landed in rehab, making the point that we do find out very dramatic.

When i first saw the title of this film and saw that Anne Hathaway was the main character, I quickly expected it to be another cheesy chick flick about marriage. I was wrong. Directed by Jonathan Demme, This movie is a really beautiful depiction a family's highs and lows all encapsulated within one turbulent weekend. The tumultuous Kym (Anne Hathaway) gets a weekend break from a 9 month stint in rehab to attend her older sister's wedding. The character development is beautiful and natural. The director did an incredible job of guiding his cast and letting them really envelop themselves in their characters. The film almost feels like a documentary at times because of the freedom of the camera and airy and quirky atmosphere of the set. The colors are beautiful, the characters are beautiful, the story is beautiful. There are deeply painful moments when the background of the family is slowly revealed. And though not every problem is resolved, the little moments of reconciliation are worth every second. The things that are left hanging are perfect in their confusion because it reminds you of how no family is ever free of dysfunction.
I also love that the director used a lot of his friends, neighbors as actors in the film. The actors obviously have great chemistry with each other and their interactions are so convincing. The character of the fiance is played by the lead singer of Tv On The Radio, and does a sweet and genuine feeling job. I would recommend it to everyone, well, anyone over the age of 13.

This was a decent movie, I have to agree with the ladies below when I saw that Anne Hathaway shines in this film. She is not type cast as a princess anymore. She plays an recovering addict who is taking a short break from rehabbing it up because her sister Rachel is getting married. I loved how in love Rachel and her fiancee was the wedding was really entertaining. This movie highlights a family and the bad seed of the family. But I didnt like the ending and I didnt like how much of the movie they didnt tell you what was going on until after they all spoke about it.

This is a great chick flick about a recovering addict home from rehab for her sister's wedding. Will she or won't she ruin the idyllic wedding weekend? That is the tension. The family dynamics set against a hippie wedding weekend are wonderful. Think "My Best Friend's Wedding" and then do a one eighty. Anne Hathaway is great, but the surprise performance is Debra Winger -- yes, An Officer and A Gentleman Debra Winger -- as the somewhat detached mother of the bride, who can't forgive Hathaway's character for the past. Sidney Lumet's daughter has written and directed this film, it's great entertainment shot in a "reality" mode, as if it were a documentary much of the time. This is the film that got Hathaway out of the Princess Diary mode once and for all. She's all grown up now and I look forward to seeing more serious roles from this actress and more family dynamic films from Ms. Lumet.

I absolutely must applaud Anne Hathaway's performance in this movie. I really love how she is able to show her bright side in movies such as "Get Smart" and "Ella Enchanted," but also her dark side, in "Brokeback Mountain" and "Rachel Getting Married."

In this film, Hathaway plays a troubled, recovering alcoholic named Rachel who comes home only to find her family deep in preparation for her "perfect" sister Rachel's upcoming nupitals. Hathaway struggles with her inner demons as well as certain members of the wedding party she'd rather not have to deal with. Hathaway lets us into her character's soul in this film, and for that I give this film 5 stars. We are able to see the nitty gritty stuff, the pain, suffering, and confusion that comes with being a recovering alcoholic, but also the beauty of forgiveness and the saving grace of the family. This movie made me sad, angry, excited, happy, and sad again. Truly one of the year's most underappreciated films.