The Wedding Weekend (2006)

The six overgrown babies at the center of this drama sound great when they sing. The problem is that for most of the film they're just plain talking. What a bunch of self-involved narcissists! They fret when they get a gray hair. They're not sure they want a baby. They don't get enough sex. But mostly they're just worried that life is passing them by. Awwwwww.Some of their wives and girlfriends aren't depicted very attractively, and these females seem mainly portrayed as ball-and-chains. When a young Swedish nanny comes on the scene, the men become obsessed with her "beauty incarnate," yet to me -- I'm a gal, admittedly -- she seemed more a vapid Shelley Duvall lookalike than a sex goddess.The film had its humorous moments, and I stayed interested enough to watch it to the end, but it always seemed the characters were mainly cardboard. A lot of the dialogue seems to have been written at the sitcom level, perhaps by writers who hope to do standup someday.As good as these characters sounded a cappella, I never quite bought that their ensemble was more than a plot device. Encore, guys -- NOT!

Bruce Leddy tried his best giving the budget to make 'Shut Up And Sing' aka 'The Wedding Weekend'.The problem lies in the plot, Some moments are interesting, but usually bland.A group of guys who sang together in a college a Capella group reunite 15 years later to perform at a friend's wedding and discover how their lives have progressed -- and in some cases regressed -- since their college heyday, an idea that seems dated and the lack of face-value, disappoints all the way.Acting wise: Molly Shannon is the only actor who does her part well, while all the others try hard, though some manage.on the whole 'Shut Up And Sing' isn't what you expect.

This past week in Aspen, Co. I happened to select "Shut Up and Sing" as one of my Independent film choices at the HBO Comedy Festival. I have been attending the comedy festival for the past five years and I can absolutely say this is the best movie that I have seen that has been presented at the festival. "Shut Up and Sing" also received the "Audience Award" for best movie.I loved the humor , the characters were full and believable and very well acted. "Shut Up and Sing" reminded me of "The Big Chill". Only funnier and more current. The music was wonderful as well. The selection of songs that the group sang were good and fit in well with the overall theme. Their voices were well matched, strong and lively. I am still humming the opening song which is stuck in my head.I never see a movie twice, maybe that's just being part of the Baby Boom generation, never enough time. But I did see "Shut Up And Sing" twice. (I had a Best Audience award ticket). The movie was as enjoyable the second time as the first. People were leaving the theater singing and with big smiles on their faces.I was so excited about this film that I have told all my friends how good this movie is and we are all awaiting the finished product!

While the movie does have a cappella singing in it, you don't have to be a big fan of that music to appreciate it (although it is really good in the movie). It's really about the pre-midlife crisis that these guys who used to be in an a cappella group are now facing in their mid-30s as they get together again to sing at a wedding. The acting is really solid and there are so many good characters that you're bound to relate to one of them. Molly Shannon shows she can do a lot more than prat falls playing an outspoken wife who is at times hilarious and also very serious. Guys will love Elssa the Swedish nanny that they all dream about in the movie (a very funny sequence) and women will swoon over the Keanu Reeves-like character Spooner. There are so many laugh-out-loud lines in the movie that I want to see it again to catch them all (unfortunately it's not in theaters yet, I saw it at the HBO Comedy Festival). I saw that it is playing at the Gen Arts Film Festival in NYC in April so try to see it there. YOU WILL LOVE THIS MOVIE!