The Groomsmen (2006)

Director:

Edward Burns

Writer (WGA):

Edward Burns (written by)

Release Date:

22 September 2006 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

There's a difference between getting older and growing up.

Plot:

A groom (Ed Burns) and his four attendants wrestle with issues related to friendship and maturity a week before the big day.

Plot Keywords:

Brother Brother Relationship | Mets Jersey | Female Nudity | Pickup Truck | Baseball Cap

Cast

Edward Burns	...	Paulie
Heather Burns	...	Jules
John Leguizamo	...	TC
Matthew Lillard	...	Dez Howard
Donal Logue	...	Jimbo
Jay Mohr	...	Cousin Mike Sullivan
Brittany Murphy	...	Sue
Shari Albert	...	Tina Howard
Jessica Capshaw	...	Jen
Spencer Fox	...	Little Jack
Kevin Kash	...	Strip Club MC
Amy Leonard	...	Crystal
Arthur J. Nascarella	...	Mr. B (as Arthur Nascarella)
John F. O'Donohue	...	Pops (as John O'Donohue)
Joe Pistone	...	Top Cat

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:6 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Marlboro Road Gang Productions

Trivia:

In the last bar scene with Ed Burns and Mathew Lillard, Burns is wearing a t-shirt saying "Up & Down Club" - which is the Jazz club his wife Christy Turlington owned with her sister Erin back in San Francisco. The club had a good run from 1994 till 1999.

Quotes:

Jimbo: And I'm the center fielder, bitch!

Movie Connections:

References "Little House on the Prairie" (1974)

Soundtrack:

A Good Sign

Why the so-so reviews?

I can't understand why this film has not been greeted with close to raves from most of the critics; but then, it seems that lots of folks resent Ed Burns' career. He made one good film, Brothers McMullen, and then produced a series of half-baked follow ups. Plus, his good looks gave him an acting career that others must envy.

His good luck aside, Burns is back in top form with The Groomsmen, an insightful look at a group of boy/men tip toeing into middle age. His ear for the venacular, in this case Long Island/Bronx Irish, is just about perfect, he creates an inviting sense of time and place and his work with the actors is pitch perfect.

Ironically, the only weak performance in the film is Burns'. His good looking Irish poker face is not compelling enough to communicate his character's inner turmoil. Matt Dillon, could he have been afforded, would have nailed this role. That said, Burns contributes a basic sense of human decency that permeates the film; it's in his character and in his writing.

I loved the whole cast, but was particularly moved by Matthew Lilligard's portrayal of a "regular joe," a bar owner who dreams of his glory days as a garage band musician now that he is the father of two. His speech about his children, buzzed, standing on his porch in the middle of the night, is a WONDERFUL example of expressive acting and, for me, the highlight of the entire film.

Don't blow this one off if you feel you've been burned by Burns in the past (sorry about that). His ending is too pat, unworthy of some of the honest, painful material that has preceded it; but all in all The Groomsmen makes me look forward to his next film. Check this one out, probably will be great when it hits NETFLIX.