When thinking about wedding guests who might drive you crazy, a slew of characters come to mind. The new comedy The People We Hate at the Wedding showcases exactly who you wouldn’t want at your nuptials; unfortunately for viewers, that can be a bit annoying at times.
The People We Hate at the Wedding, based on the book of the same name, tells the story of a blended family whose lack of communication leads to a whole big mess on the eldest daughter’s wedding day. From the jump, the film is cheesy and silly, slightly elevated from a Lifetime movie. As middle child Alice, Kristen Bell’s effortless charisma and enticing screen presence help carry the movie alongside Ben Platt’s surprisingly delightful comedic chops as the youngest brother. Cynthia Addai-Robinson is sweet to a fault as the somewhat naive eldest, Eloise, a character so set on having a great family reunion that her efforts become obnoxious.
The movie has a brevity to it that makes the silliness and embarrassing antics pass by quickly, and it delivers a decent amount of chuckles and even some outright laughs. Those laughs are met with heavy moments that seem out of place at times, but they give the movie a bit more direction. The family is messy; Alice has an inappropriate workplace relationship and Paul has an uncomfortably pushy partner. But there are relatable pockets in the disarray, like Alice and Paul finding their older sister insufferable or growing up in the midwest with Taco Bell as a backdrop to some of their most precious memories. It’s a bit predictable, but if you’re looking for a sweet movie that’ll give you a laugh, and you don’t mind a little stupidity, this will do. R, 99 min.
