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The Review - AT THE MOVIES with WILLIAM HALL
Published: 9 August 2007

John Krasinski and Mandy Moore as the hapless couple trying to make it past Robin Williams

It’s the bride and gloom with Williams in charge

LICENCE TO WED
Directed by Ken Kwapis
Certificate 12a

A LITTLE of Robin Williams goes a long way. Sometimes too long.
As a pulpit-pounding preacher in charge of weddings at his local St Augustine’s Church he’s more manic than ministerial, mapping out his own list of do’s and don’ts for prospective newly-weds which are enough to put anyone off tying the knot.
John Krasinski and Mandy Moore are the hapless young couple hoping to make it up the aisle, but the Reverend Frank is right in there putting them through a bizarre obstacle course before agreeing to take the service.
He bugs their bedroom to make sure they’re not having sex; he manipulates them into having arguments they don’t want, and he tries to undermine the bond the groom is trying to build with his fiancée’s family.
Where’s the humour in that?
“Someone once said that marriage is bliss – but that someone probably wasn’t married!” he intones ominously, before setting them outrageous tasks to prove they’re suitable.
They can just about live with that – but not with a pair of twin baby robots who need nappy-changing, howl the place down, and become part of the family. The high spot is when one of the mechanical tots pees in the groom’s face, which gives you an indication of the laughter level.
“He’s a little bit… intrusive, isn’t he?” whispers the poor bride as the Rev Frank finally pops up in the bedroom.
That’s for sure. And sadly Williams is in overdrive with his irritating antics in this feel-bad romantic comedy.

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