It’s the middle of June, which makes it the perfect time for a wedding.
Don’t want to get hitched? Don’t worry, you can just watch some great movies about brides, grooms and everything involving the act of saying, “I do.”
Watch With Us has curated a short list of three movie masterpieces on Netflix that all have something to do with weddings – wanting to be in them, attending them or making sure they don’t happen at all.
With stars like Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway and Toni Collette, these films are not only entertaining, they also tell timeless stories that defy conventions – and expectations.
‘Rachel Getting Married’ (2008)
We all have that one relative who is well-meaning but a bit of a mess. But to describe Kym (Anne Hathaway) as the black sheep of the Buchanan family would be a disservice to black sheep. Out of rehab for a few days to attend her older sister Rachel’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding, she tries her best to behave, stay sober and not disrupt her sibling’s big moment. Old habits are hard to break, though, and Kym can’t resist indulging in all the self-destructive behavior that got her into trouble in the first place. Rachel loves her sister, but on the cusp of a new chapter in her life, is it finally time to say goodbye to her for good?
One of director Jonathan Demme’s last works, Rachel Getting Married is a feel-good movie about flawed people feeling bad about themselves. Kym doesn’t want to ruin Rachel’s wedding, but she can’t help it – deep down, she believes she doesn’t deserve anyone’s love due to a past traumatic event that still haunts her. Hathaway is an underrated actress, and she gives arguably her best performance to date in a tricky role – Kym’s actions don’t make much sense, and you frequently want to yell at her to do the right thing. The film also features one of the best wedding celebrations in the history of movies – it’s so good, you might be tempted to get hitched yourself just so you can throw a party just like it.
‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ (1997)
Julianne (Julia Roberts) is a tough food critic and even tougher woman to date. She has high standards, which is why she never considered lifelong friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) a romantic option — simply put, he’s too nice for someone as cynical as Julianne. But when Michael tells her he’s engaged to the bright and bubbly Kimmy (Cameron Diaz), she changes her tune quickly. Now Julianne wants Michael for herself, and she’ll do just about anything to get him – including making sure his wedding to Kimmy doesn’t happen.
My Best Friend’s Wedding was a return to form for Roberts, who was suffering a career slump after duds like I Love Trouble and Mary Reilly. The Pretty Woman actress is in top form as an anti-heroine who does some very bad things for the greater good – well, her greater good, anyway. She’s supported by an utterly delightful cast, with Diaz stealing every scene she’s in as a woman who is so naively charming that even Julianne kinda likes her even when she hates her and wants to be her. The film’s standout scene is probably when everyone spontaneously sings “I Say a Little Prayer’ – it’s so unexpected and infectious, you’ll start singing, too.
‘Muriel’s Wedding’ (1994)
All Muriel (Toni Collette) wants to do is escape her dead-end Australian beach town – and her toxic friends and family. She thinks the best way to achieve her goal is to get married, but who would want to marry her — she’s too awkward, too overweight and likes ABBA way too much to appeal to most men, right? When she befriends the free-spirited Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths), Muriel believes she can do just about anything, even a walk down the aisle with a handsome South African swimmer who needs to become an Australian citizen so he can participate in the upcoming Summer Olympics. Is Muriel desperate enough to take part in a sham marriage just so she can walk down the aisle?
Muriel’s Wedding is an important part of movie history because it introduced the world to Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths. The two actresses are outstanding as best friends who can’t stand all the silly, selfish people around them. Collette never makes Muriel pathetic – her desperation is one you can relate to and something most people have already experienced. The film takes some unexpected turns in the final act, and it becomes more of a drama than a comedy. But this is a winning affirmation about the power of friendship, and how you don’t need a marriage or family to feel fulfilled by someone else.
