Rachel Getting Married

[Deleted]

I searched for a thread on this one, but no joy. I did not have a chance to see it in the theater, but rented it the other night. I really enjoyed it, and it's been a long time since I've really enjoyed a straight drama.

Thought Anne Hathaway deserved her nomination for the role. She really stayed true to the character the entire way through. You couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but kind of hated her at the same time. The rehearsal dinner toast was absolutely cringe-inducing and the scene where Rachel announces she's pregnant was also pretty bad.

Overall, I thought it was a good exploration of how a family deals (or doesn't) with tragedy. Debra Winger really nailed it as the emotionally checked out mother. I felt so bad for Rachel in the scene where her mother is leaving the wedding.

One question -- at the end, did Kym call her counselor to come and get her or was she on weekend furlough?

[Mutagen]

This movie was tough to watch, but I ended up liking it far more than I had expected to. You picked out the two scenes - the wedding toast and Rachel's pregnancy announcement - that really stuck with me, in addition to the way the dishwashing race scene ended. A lot of moments that just hit you in the stomach.

I think what really impressed me is that every time I started to take one person's side, something would happen that made me completely reconsider it, without making me forget why I felt that way in the first place.

I agree that Hathaway was excellent, and so were the actors playing the sister and the father.

[satellite]

One question -- at the end, did Kym call her counselor to come and get her or was she on weekend furlough?

IIRC, she was on furlough.

I really liked this movie too. Who knew Anne Hathaway had it in her? The family reminded me of some of the people from my college town with that whole over-educated, wealthy, kind of hippie/ granola liberal thing and the one effed-up kid.

[Deleted]

One question -- at the end, did Kym call her counselor to come and get her or was she on weekend furlough?

I thought she called her because she was overwhelmed. Weren't they trying to get her a job and force a new life on her? I don't think she was ready, especially since there were so many unresolved issues within the family and she had that huge confrontation with her mother.

[jaghetersimon]

I also liked this much more than I thought I would. The 12 step meetings were totally realistic and spot-on (don't ask me how I know this, ha) and Hathaway totally nailed how self-centered, immature, and stunted in maturity/development addicts generally are. The dad was the perfect co-dependent, and I couldn't blame the mom for checking out and not wanting to be reminded of the son she lost.

Also, the part when it was revealed that Kym lied about being sexually abused, to explain her addiction--so painfully true and real to life! Again, don't ask me how I know so much about addiction and family dynamics. Ha.

And the music in the film was perfect too. Yeah, great movie all around.

ETA that I loved how the Best Man said in the 12 step meeting that he was getting sick of the monotony and boredom of sobriety, and then a couple of scenes later he's hooking up with Trainwreck Kym. So, so true.

[Strawberry]

I didn't really feel the love for this movie, and I've over- analyzed it waaay to much. My thoughts on it have really become incoherent at this point.

But I'll try anyway.

I felt like they held back. I think RGM could have pushed it just a little more, a little deeper, but they were too uncomfortable really going for it.

At the same time, isn't that an accurate portrayal of a family tragedy? The unspoken, the avoidance, the denial? And isn't it also the spirit of Indy to NOT tie a movie up in a pretty, slick, back-storied, little bow- but to give you a glimpse (in the drama genre, at least)?

But I still think they held back...some absolutely tragic barrier wasn't broken. Hathaway was good, but she was too aware of her character. Which I suppose relates to being a self-absorbed user, but it wasn't even in that sense. The sister far outshined AH in this movie.

The dish scene was sad, but I felt like I was being played to as the audience. Like the film said, 'Oops, see what happened there? Pretty brutal, huh?" The attempt to get a reaction out of me was too obvious.



God this movie bugs. It keeps me going in circles.

[clementine74]

The music bugged the shit out of me.

[minky]

I got sick when Kym and her mom hit each other. The music was perfect though it bugged the shit out of me too.

[Margo]

I really liked it. I agree with things everyone else has said - the great performances, the good way the movie ended (no neat ending, just a slice of life), the various cringe-inducing scenes. Awesome. I also really liked the scene where Kym was at her mother's apartment and started trying to transfer the blame onto her mom when she asked why she left her son in the care of her addict daughter. The screenwriter knows how dysfunctional families work, heh.

Alright, we can all agree that Kym is dysfunctional and narcissistic, but was anyone else annoyed by her family and their friends as well?

[Deleted]

I didn't much care for the mother, it seems like she had practically no relationship with her daughters after the accident. Everyone annoyed me on some level except the dad. He seemed like a really sweet guy who was trying really hard to keep everyone together.