The Wedding Date: A Movie Worth Watching?

The Wedding Date is a romantic comedy movie released in 2005. The movie stars Debra Messing as Kat, a woman who hires a male escort, Nick (Dermot Mulroney), to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. Kat's plan is to make her ex-fiancé, who is the best man at the wedding, jealous. The movie received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it formulaic, bland, and lightweight, while others found it entertaining and amusing. It has been praised for its performances, particularly that of Dermot Mulroney, but criticized for its script and character development. Overall, The Wedding Date is a light and enjoyable movie that provides a few hours of fun and entertainment for fans of romantic comedies.

The chemistry between the leads

Opinions on the chemistry between Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney in "The Wedding Date" are mixed. Some viewers find that the two leads have no chemistry, with one review stating that Messing and Mulroney have "as much chemistry as oil and vinegar". However, others disagree, with one review stating that the two leads have "good on-screen chemistry". Another review states that the two leads seem "very comfortable with each other", and that the ease with which they portray their feelings for each other is "commendable".

One review states that although Nick and Kat don't start out with chemistry, they do develop it over the course of the movie. The review goes on to say that although the feelings expressed seem "too strong too fast", by the end of the movie, the reviewer was "rooting for them".

Some viewers attribute the lack of chemistry between the two leads to Dermot Mulroney's "detached" and "flat" performance, and his "weird" and "emotionless" voice.

The movie's treatment of sex and romance

The 2005 romantic comedy "The Wedding Date" has a lot to say about sex and romance, and it pulls no punches when it comes to explicit sexual references and situations.

The movie centres around Kat Ellis, a single woman who hires a male escort, Nick, to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. Her plan is to make her ex-fiancé, who dumped her a few years prior, jealous. This sets the tone for the film's treatment of sex and romance as intertwined, with the idea that sex can be used as a tool for manipulation or revenge. The film also presents the idea that sex is a key component of a romantic relationship, with Nick's services including sex for an extra fee.

The film includes several explicit sexual references, such as prostitution, infidelity, and the idea that "the best sex is make-up sex." There is also a drunken sexual encounter that is portrayed as romantic. The characters' behaviour around sex and romance is often unsavoury, with Kat's sister revealing that she slept with Kat's ex-fiancé, leading to a betrayal that threatens to destroy all their relationships.

Despite the film's light-hearted and humorous tone, it does explore some deeper themes related to sex and romance. For example, the character of Nick, the male escort, is portrayed as subtle and intriguing, with a closely guarded personal life. He believes that "every woman has the exact love life she wants," and it is his job to figure out what that is and create the illusion that he is supplying it. This presents an interesting perspective on the interplay between sex, romance, and fantasy.

Overall, "The Wedding Date" treats sex and romance as intertwined, complex, and sometimes messy aspects of human relationships. It explores the idea that sex can be used as a tool or a weapon, and that romance can be manipulated or faked. Despite the film's light and humorous tone, it does engage with some thought-provoking themes related to sex and romance.

The character of Kat Ellis

In the 2005 romantic comedy "The Wedding Date", Kat Ellis, played by Debra Messing, is a single New Yorker who returns to her parents' house in London to be the maid of honour at her younger half-sister Amy's wedding. The groom's best man is Kat's former fiancé, Jeffrey, who unexpectedly dumped her two years ago. Anxious about confronting him and eager to impress, she hires suave escort Nick Mercer to pose as her boyfriend.

Kat intends to make her former flame, Jeffrey, jealous, but her plan backfires when Nick convinces everyone, including herself, that they are madly in love. Kat finds herself falling for Nick, and he slowly falls for her too. However, the night before the wedding, Kat discovers that Amy slept with Jeffrey when they were still together, and that he dumped her because he believed he was in love with Amy. Nick had discovered this a day earlier, and when Kat finds out, she feels betrayed from all sides and ends things with Nick.

On the wedding day, seeing Kat distressed, her step-father asks her if Nick 'is the guy for her'. Kat realises he is, so she sets off to find him. Meanwhile, just before the wedding ceremony, Amy confesses her betrayal to her fiancé, Ed, but professes her love for him. Ed, upset, chases Jeffrey out of the church and down the road. Jeffrey insists he gave up on Amy and believes he has done nothing wrong. Ed calls him a "back-stabbing weasel", but Jeffrey believes he's still not in the wrong as he slept with Amy before she and Ed dated.

Nick picks up Ed in a car as Jeffrey disappears into the woods. They talk about love, and Ed decides he loves Amy more than he is angry. Nick and Ed return to the church, with Nick as the 'new' best man. Just before the ceremony, Nick tells Kat he realised he would "rather fight with you than make love with anyone else", and they kiss passionately. Kat and Nick begin a real relationship, and he gives up his job.

Kat Ellis is an insecure young woman who wants to make her ex-fiancé jealous and her family think she is in love. She is fluttery, self-centred, and insecure, but the audience wants her to be happy. She has to navigate a confusing situation, not knowing how she feels about hiring an escort or about her former fiancé. Despite her flaws, she is a character the audience can root for.

The movie's ending

The ending of "The Wedding Date" sees Kat and Nick reconcile and begin a real relationship, with Nick giving up his job as an escort. Kat also reconciles with her sister, Amy, who confesses her betrayal to her fiancé, Ed, but professes her love for him. Ed decides to forgive Amy, and the wedding goes ahead. Jeffrey, Kat's ex-fiancé, learns nothing from the experience and is seen trying to get the attention of a female neighbour at the end of the film.

The ending of the movie has been described as forced and inauthentic by some viewers, who felt that Kat's decision to forgive her sister was unrealistic. Others found the ending satisfying, with one reviewer saying that it left them "smiling".

The movie's setting

The movie begins with Kat Ellis, a single New Yorker, returning to her parents' house in London. The movie features several locations in London, including the wedding venue, St James's Church, in Shere, Surrey. Some outdoor scenes were filmed on location in Parliament Hill Fields, overlooking central London. The film was also shot in other parts of Surrey, including Chilworth, Godalming, and Guildford.

The wedding itself is a central event in the movie, taking place at the picturesque St James's Church. The church's location in the quaint village of Shere adds to the romantic and idyllic atmosphere of the wedding ceremony. The surrounding areas of Surrey, with their lush greenery and charming villages, further enhance the movie's aesthetic and tone.

The production design and art direction of the film also contribute to the overall setting and visual appeal. The wedding decorations, costumes, and overall aesthetic of the film reflect the contemporary early-2000s style, with elegant and sophisticated touches. The choice of locations, from the church to the outdoor scenes, showcases the beauty of London and its surrounding areas, creating a captivating backdrop for the romantic comedy.

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