Junior Rasmussen
The Wedding Ringer is a 2015 American buddy romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Jeremy Garelick. The film stars Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, and was produced by Adam Fields, Will Packer Productions, and Miramax. It was officially released on January 16, 2015, and has a runtime of 101 minutes. Despite receiving generally negative reviews, the film was a box office success, grossing over $79 million worldwide against a $23 million budget.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Director | Jeremy Garelick |
| Writers | Jeremy Garelick, Jay Lavender, Vince Holohan |
| Stars | Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco |
| Rating | 6.6/10 |
| Runtime | Not found |
| Release Date | January 16, 2015 |
| Budget | $23 million |
| Box Office Collection | $79 million |
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The movie's plot
The Wedding Ringer is an American buddy romantic comedy film starring Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. The film was directed and co-written by Jeremy Garelick and was released on January 16, 2015. Despite receiving generally negative reviews, the film was a box office success, grossing over $79 million worldwide.
The film follows the story of Doug Harris (played by Josh Gad), a socially awkward groom-to-be who has found the woman of his dreams, Gretchen Palmer (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting). With his wedding fast approaching, Doug realizes he has no best man and groomsmen to fill the seven spots needed to match Gretchen's seven bridesmaids. Doug is referred to Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart), the owner of Best Man, Inc., a company that provides best men for grooms in need.
As Doug and Jimmy get to know each other, they learn more about themselves and form an unexpected bromance. Jimmy helps Doug create fake identities for the groomsmen, with photo shoots of skydiving, scuba diving, and other activities. They also visit Edmundo, a flamboyant wedding planner, who advises Doug on how to please Gretchen and her mother. At Doug's bachelor party, he meets Nadia, who tries to seduce him, but they end up becoming friends.
Overall, the film is a silly and funny tale that highlights the silliness of putting unnecessary pressures on a wedding day. It received mixed reactions from critics and audiences, with some praising the humour and chemistry between Hart and Gad, while others found the premise unoriginal.
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Critical reception
The Wedding Ringer received generally negative reviews from critics, with a rating of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 35 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Despite this, the film was a box office success, grossing over $79 million against a $23 million budget.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus reads:
> "Kevin Hart and Josh Gad might be two great comedians that go great together, but there's little evidence of it on display in The Wedding Ringer."
Richard Roeper gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, acknowledging the chemistry between Hart and Gad but criticising the "cockamamie premise". ABC News gave the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars, stating, "Hart and Gad make you laugh simply by showing up. Add a moderately funny script, and The Wedding Ringer is a winner."
Audiences gave the film a grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale on CinemaScore. The movie received a rating of 6.6 out of 10 on IMDb, with several viewers praising the comedy and performances of Hart and Gad. One IMDb review stated, "The Wedding Ringer is a silly funny film that makes for a good laugh and [helps you realise] the silliness of putting needless pressures on a big day in a man and woman's life." Another review on the same platform noted that the film was "pretty predictable but [...] very funny".
Despite the generally negative critical reception, some viewers on Amazon praised the film, with one calling it an "absolute favourite". Another Amazon review stated that the film was "funny from beginning to end".
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Box office performance
The Wedding Ringer, a 2015 American buddy romantic comedy film, was a box office success. The film grossed $64.5 million in North America and made $15.3 million in other territories, resulting in a worldwide total of $79 million against a budget of $23 million.
The film was released in North American theatres on January 16, 2015, grossing $20.6 million in its opening weekend. It finished second at the box office behind American Sniper, which earned a total of $107 million during the four-day weekend. The Wedding Ringer took in a total of $24 million during the same four-day MLK Holiday weekend.
The Wedding Ringer's box office performance can be attributed to several factors, including its star power, with Kevin Hart and Josh Gad leading the cast, and a strong marketing campaign. Hart, in particular, promoted the film heavily on social media and through a college tour, targeting college students as a key demographic due to their high social media usage.
The film's release date was strategically chosen to coincide with the MLK weekend, a popular time for comedy films. The Wedding Ringer's performance during this holiday weekend contributed significantly to its overall box office success, as it provided a strong start to its theatrical run.
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Production
The production of "The Wedding Ringer" began in 2013, with Screen Gems and Miramax as the production companies. The film was produced by Adam Fields, Will Packer Productions, and Miramax. It was distributed by Screen Gems. The film was initially set in Chicago, but the producers won a $2.8 million California tax credit and rewrote the script for Los Angeles. Filming took place in Santa Monica and Marina del Rey, California, over 38 days in the fall of 2013.
The film's script, initially titled "The Golden Tux," was purchased by Dimension Films as early as 2002, with Todd Phillips, the director of "The Hangover," attached as a producer. However, the film went through many revisions, and by 2013, both Kevin Hart and Josh Gad were attached to the project, and the title was changed to "The Wedding Ringer."
To promote the film, Kevin Hart announced on Twitter that he would be doing a college tour to promote "The Wedding Ringer," as he believed that college students were big social media users who could help promote the film. Hart encouraged students to tweet about the film. Sony Pictures Entertainment also released the first official trailer on June 19, 2014, followed by a "Best Friends" trailer on September 25, 2014, and a Restricted "Holiday" trailer on December 2, 2014.
"The Wedding Ringer" was released in North American theaters on January 16, 2015, and on DVD and Blu-ray on April 28, 2015. The film grossed $64.5 million in North America and $15.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $79.8 million against a budget of $23 million. Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, the film was a box office success and well-received by audiences.
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Themes
The Wedding Ringer is a 2015 American romantic comedy film directed by Jeremy Garelick. The movie revolves around the socially awkward groom-to-be Doug Harris, who hires Jimmy Callahan, the owner of a company that provides best men and groomsmen for grooms in need. Doug needs a "Golden Tux", which means seven groomsmen to match his fiancée's bridesmaids.
The movie explores the theme of friendship and the lengths people go to in order to fit in and please others. Doug, who has no friends, is desperate to give his fiancée the wedding of her dreams. This desperation leads him to hire a professional best man and groomsmen, showcasing the importance he places on appearances and social expectations. This theme is further emphasised by the dynamic between Doug and Jimmy, who starts off as a hired companion but eventually becomes a genuine friend to Doug. Their relationship highlights the value of genuine connection and friendship, even in unexpected places.
Another theme prevalent in the movie is the pressure and expectations surrounding weddings. The film pokes fun at the idea of a "fairytale ending" and the sometimes unnecessary stress that comes with planning a wedding. It highlights the silliness of putting too much pressure on a single day, encouraging viewers to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
The Wedding Ringer also touches on the theme of self-discovery and acceptance. As Doug and Jimmy get to know each other, they learn more about themselves and their own lives. Doug, for instance, realises the impact his parents' death and his subsequent immersion in work had on his ability to form friendships. This theme adds a layer of depth to the film, offering a thoughtful reflection on personal growth and self-acceptance.
While the film received generally negative reviews from critics, it was a box office success, with many audience members praising its humour and entertainment value.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie is 97 minutes long.
The Wedding Ringer has a rating of 6.6/10 on IMDB, 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 35/100 on Metacritic.
The movie stars Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting.
The Wedding Ringer is a romantic comedy about a man who hires the owner of a company that provides best men for grooms in need.
