License To Wed Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
First came love... then came Reverend Frank.
Sadie and Ben are in love, and although Ben suggests getting married in the Caribbean, Sadie has her heart set on a wedding at the family church, St. Augustine's. Ben says sure, and they meet with the pastor, Rev. Frank. The only date open for two years is three weeks away, and Frank insists the kids go through his marriage prep course. They're to write their own vows; he also demands chastity, bugs their apartment, initiates arguments, has them care for robot twins, creates friction between Ben and her family, and raises doubts in Sadie. Desperate, Ben looks for dirt on Frank. Can he undermine Frank's authority and keep Sadie's heart?
| Robin Williams | Reverend Frank |
| Mandy Moore | Sadie Jones |
| John Krasinski | Ben Murphy |
| Eric Christian Olsen | Carlisle |
| DeRay Davis | Joel |
| Yuki Bird | Carlisle' girlfriend |
| William Tempel | Church Member |
| Brian Baumgartner | Jim |
| Blaine Cade | Corry |
| Craig Figueiredo | Doorman |
| Josh Flitter | Choir Boy |
| Poncho Hodges | Security Guard - Macys |
| David Quinlan | Husband |
| Peter Strauss | Mr. Jones |
| Sean Tyson | Starbucks patron |
| Ken Kwapis |
5.10 out of 10 (5525 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Solid C Film
posted on 24 Aug 2009License to Wed is exactly what I expected it to be when watching the previews. An overall average movie, nothing mind blowing, but also not impossible to watch.The movie is a little cliché at points and most of it you have seen before in whatever romantic comedy you decide to think of, but there are a few additions to this movie that made it enjoyable for me.As a huge fan of the TV show "The Office", I went to the theater the other night hoping that the movie would keep me as entertained as the small screen gem does. If this is what you are hoping for, sorry, its a bit of a let down. However, the simple appearance of a couple of "Office" stars is enjoyable.The only real beef that I have with the movie overall is Robin Williams' sexed up priest character. I can understand what they were trying to do (humor from sex dialogue), but the conversations seemed uncomfortable to me. A priest becoming sexual isn't that far fetched in this day and age, but really, when your movie makes it look like a priest is hitting on a woman in his marriage counseling class in front of her soon to be husband, just rubs me the wrong way.License to Wed is neither terrible nor wonderful. My recommendation would be to watch it if you really don't care what you watch and just need a popcorn movie to relax. No huge laughs but no huge let downs either.
Perhaps The Most Dismal Two Hours I Have Ever Spent
posted on 18 Aug 2009After spending almost two hours watching this movie, you have to surely be left with one question raging inside your head: what in the world went wrong here? The story seems as if it should be funny: an unorthodox marriage preparation course run by an unorthodox minister, who's played by Robin Williams (someone who - although his work isn't always to my taste - can nevertheless be pretty funny most of the time.) You settle in and expect some reasonable comedy. Instead, what you end up with is a sheer, unmitigated disaster. It's not funny, it features one of the most irritating child actors (Josh Flitter) I've ever come across (OK, let's be fair to the kid - it was his character -the "junior minister" or something - that was irritating) and the rest of the cast (including Williams) doesn't come across as much more endearing. Having just watched this (at least when I wasn't dozing off, as I was continually through the whole thing) I honestly cannot think of anything good to say about it. Watching it was simply a dismal experience. Without anything good to say about it, how can I give it anything more than a 1/10?
Barfworthy...
posted on 16 Aug 2009As expected of most (if not all) Mandy Moore movies, License to Wed was on the verge of barfworthy. This, despite Robin Williams' antics, his pint-sized sidekick, and a good number of The Office cast to support veteran sitcom and romcom director Ken Kwapis.It was difficult to like any of the characters, which made it equally hard to buy the ridiculous storyline of such an invasive pastor (Williams) seemingly bent on testing the love of newly engaged Sadie and Ben (Moore and John Krasinski). There wasn't enough material and depth for even the lead characters to connect with the audience, despite a universal concept such as getting hitched. It's a pain to analyze what is meant to be a light comedy but it just feels like a rip-off. For instance, when the pastor asks Ben why he would like to marry Sadie, he says, "Because she's beautiful and organized..." but Sadie was just incredibly annoying all throughout the movie. Only Ben was sensitively portrayed despite his iffy reasons for choosing Sadie. The material for the rest of the supporting cast was achingly flat; a shame, because they would've been able to really "do their stuff" had they been given better lines to work with.
Modern-day Tragicomedy
posted on 16 Aug 2009This movie was amazing. Although I wouldn't give it ten stars, eight out of ten speaks very highly. The storyline of the movie was brilliant. It's something so unique, and so unusual.The only thing that I think would've been better done was the actors. John Krasinski did not do a good job playing his part.Mandy Moore was quite a good actress, although she wasn't able to bring forth her true feelings and emotions.Robin Williams has played a spectacular role once more, although I think there should've been a little less humor, since he is a reverend.A fantastic movie. Watch it!
Short and predictable
posted on 09 Aug 2009I am a fan of Robin Williams and have enjoyed many of his movies in the past, both comedies and dramas. However, this time having him in the movie wasn't enough to salvage a poorly edited series of predictable fodder. First, the movie left nothing to the imagination. Each situation was set up as if the audience had never seen a movie before and needed everything spelled out for them step by step and the punch lines could be repeated in the sleep of anyone who'd ever heard a joke before. This movie doesn't work even as something to have on in the background while doing chores around the house. At a running time of 91 minutes it's too short to have any substance that would keep you distracted enough to not mind vacuuming the floors or doing the dishes.
I believe the actors did the best they could and that the failing of this movie is in the painfully simple script and bad editing that left the movie with no content. I'm still a fan of Robin Williams, as I was after Father's Day with Billy Crystal (which has a 3.5 star rating on Amazon), but this will not be one of the movies I wish to have in my library to watch again in the future. In fact, right now, I'm really hoping I can forget I ever saw it at all.
A license to laugh and feel good, that's what this film brings
posted on 08 Aug 2009Sadie (Mandy Moore) and Ben (John Kraskinski) meet in a coffee shop line. They are soon smitten with each other, eventually moving in together. When Ben proposes at Sadie's parents' anniversary party, everyone is happy. Yet, although Ben would like to get married in the Caribbean, Sadie has her heart set on being married at a church called St. Augustine's. Ben soon realizes that things are not going to be easy. That's because all engaged couples at the church must go through a rigorous premarital counseling program designed by Pastor Frank (Robin Williams). There will be no sex until the wedding, Pastor Frank decrees. There are sessions with other couples, where they play free word association games and are set up to pick fights with one another. Pastor Frank has a few secret strategies up his sleeve, too. At the end of the day, will Sadie and Ben be able to stick together? This is a movie that can be described by the phrase " a good time will be had by all". There is romance, humor, slapstick, and touching moments. The cast is very nice, with Williams doing a great job as the overly zealous pastor. The Chicago area setting is nice, the costumes adequate (I felt some of Moore's outfits were a bit lacking), and the production values quite fine. If you are drawn to romantic comedy, you will not want to skip a showing of this film. It is a good new addition to the repertoire. Fans of Williams will not want to miss this one, either, as he gives everyone a license to laugh and feel good about life.
God-awful comedy
posted on 21 Jul 2009"License to Wed" might as well have been called "Meet the Minister," since all the film does is to recycle the nightmare-before-marriage scenario from "Meet the Parents" - albeit with one crucial deviation. Needless to say, lightning rarely strikes twice when it comes to Hollywood happenings and "License to Wed" is no "Meet the Parents." Not by a long shot.Ben Murphy and Sadie Jones are a young Chicago couple who agree to undergo an intense pre-marital "training course" conducted by an obnoxious local reverend in exchange for being allowed to hold their nuptials at the church Sadie's dearly departed grandfather helped to build. To pass the course, the couple must agree to be abstinent until the wedding night, take care of two fully operational and anatomically correct mechanical infants, and undergo various forms of trauma that even Sigmund Freud himself would have trouble undoing after years of reparative analysis.As a "Meet the Parents" wannabe, "License to Wed" stumbles right out of the starting gate in that one can imagine suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous humiliation and abuse in order to win the favor of a prospective spouse's PARENTS, but to go through all that just to placate her MINISTER? I don't think so. In no time flat, the laughter turns to frustration as we find ourselves wondering why Ben doesn't just tell the dear old Reverend to go take a hike - or worse - and then seek out some religious establishment with less stringent requirements for walking down the aisle.And let's face it, there's something more than a trifle off-putting and creepy about an unwed man-of-the-cloth running around with a young boy as his personal protégé and sidekick, planting listening devices in young couple's bedrooms. Even for an alleged comic fantasy such as this one, that may be just a bridge farther than most people will be willing to go in the queasiness department.John Krasinski and Mandy Moore make an appealing enough couple, and it isn't really their fault that they've been handed a screenplay - written by no fewer than three writers, a sure sign of trouble - filled with cornball humor, heavy-handed slapstick and unappetizing secondary characters. In the role of Reverend Frank, Robin Williams, all cutesy mannerisms and third-rate mugging, hits a new low in teeth-grinding unctuousness, although one likes to believe that, if director Ken Kwapis could have gotten the actor to dial back his performance even a little, this might have been at least a tolerable movie. As it is, though, "License to Wed" is a painful experience that you will have no trouble leaving stranded at the altar.
I wish they had to go for a license to make this movie.
posted on 19 Jul 2009"License to wed" is a "comedy" about a couple ( Sadie, played by Mandy Moore, the singer/actor and Ben, played by John Krasinski, who's the Tim character in the American "The Office") who have decided to get married and consequently go through the local church to do a marriage prep course, a pre-requisite to getting married at the church. When you discover the Rev is played by Robin Williams, you just know hilarity will follow. In what is a pretty safe romantic comedy premise, the writers throw in ridiculous, predictable, absurd scenarios that just go a tad far. There's a totally ridiculous kid who plays the Rev's protégé that is cute at first, but he gets way too much screen time. As wifey said- "corny", but the in-laws thought it was great, so..........
Would Be Feel Good Comedy Falls Flat
posted on 10 Jul 2009Ok, so I'm a BIG fan of romantic-feel good comedies. This isn't one of the best. A good romantic comedy has likeable characters, a good plot, and plenty of great comic scenes to keep you laughing. This film has decent characters (although the chemistry falls pretty flat) a so-so plot, (basically a marriage preperation course that takes the couple through every last tiff and argument in a matter of a few days,) and a couple pretty funny scenes (the scenes involving the robot babies were quite hilarious.) The main problems with this film were it's constant mockery of Christianity (while oddly trying to act supportive??) It's far fetched plot elements (the end is silly it's so far fetched,) and the lack of chemistry between the two leads (could've been FAR better.)
Overall, this wasn't the worst romantic comedy I've ever seen (Two Weeks Notice takes that award) but certainly wasn't among the greats.
I now pronounce you: "Under Observation!"
posted on 06 Jul 2009When Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) are corrailed into marriage prep course by Reverend Frank (Robin Williams), all hell breaks loose.
Reverend Frank is a whacky, evangelical, over-baring, over-the-top, yet lovable, control freak. He immediately sets out to ensure the couple will: "1" by married by The Book, and "2" succeed in their marriage. He will stop at nothing to break up any pre-marital sex, to cause fights, and bring their relationship to its knees all for the ultimate goal of what he sees as a perfect marriage...
It's a comic blast with relatives, romance, and reverends. Tension comes from all directions: family, and the fiancees.
If I were to compare it to another film I would say it's the marital version of Anger Management (Widescreen Edition). If I had to compare it to current works of Mandy Moore, I would choose A Walk to Remember, though this is very up-beat, without the threat of imminent death, and so much more funny.
I would recommend this to anyone who's gone through puberty and hasn't yet died. In other words, it'd be good for you, your girlfriend, or your parents. It has a religious context, but is not religious. It is very family-friendly yet it should not be over-looked by audience.
No regular DVD?
posted on 02 Jul 2009Where is the regular DVD release for this film? The only listings on Amazon are for blu-ray and HD DVD, both of which I refuse to buy since I don't want to upgrade my massive DVD collection.
This will suck massively if they start releasing movies to blu-ray and HD only.
Awful
posted on 28 Jun 2009They took one of my favorite actresses and made me hate her. I love Mandy Moore. How could they do this to her? I like Robin Williams. I hated him in this movie too. The only person I didn't hate was the guy.
The movie started out great with the young couple meeting and it was a sweet and charming movie at that point. And then Robin Williams enters the picture and it's all down hill from there. The moment I got hit in the face with a baseball would be the time I said to Mandy Moore that the wedding is off. And the scene where she's blind folded and driving is just idiotic. She nearly killed people and then is mad at her finance because they don't communicate well enough.
And then there's the minister Robin Williams who sends a child in to illegally break into people's homes and illegally wiretap them.
The best part of the movie was when the guy finally punches Robin Williams. He was also the only bright spot in this movie. I'll give it 2 stars for him. Sorry I don't know his name.
The Office meets Robin Williams
posted on 27 Jun 2009Was trying to find something decent to watch on Pay-Per-View on a boring Thursday afternoon when I stumbled upon this. I figured John Krasinski and Robin Williams, I mean, it can't be too bad.Truth is, it was alright, but that's about it. Pretty much the same old recycled love story with a twist, they have to survive Reverend Williams ZANY pre-marriage test. Will they do it?? WILL THEY? Who cares? Altogether, the acting was decent, with Robin Williams as..... Robin Williams as ever I suppose. Mandy Moore, well I'll admit I haven't seen her in too many flicks, but I just really couldn't get into her character, and its been pretty much the same for every movie I've seen her in. There is no real range of emotion. As for John Krasinski, I'm just going to lump him into the group of characters in this movie I shall refer to as The Office. Is it just me, or was basically everybody except Steve Carell in this? Also, they pretty much played their exact same roles. John WAS Jim, the only difference is that we have yet to see what Jim is like in the bedroom with Pam in The Office.. but I'm sure its not too different from this film. There were about 4 other Office appearances too, each of them more or less the same character.Now on to the best part of the movie... when Brian Baumgartner goes for the potato skins.... classic. However, that was about the only actual comedic part. The rest was a dry cheese fest, and the cheese wasn't nutty! 5/10
Under developed
posted on 27 Jun 2009The jokes came and went within the first 10 minutes.This got boring quickly and lost my interest.What gets me is that costs $35 million to produce yet there is no huge cast or no over costly effects.The locations are all over North America from Mexico, Jamaica, Chicago, L.A. and Vancouver and that makes no sense.I saw this being filmed in Vancouver...and there is nothing anywhere else that really had to be filmed in another part of the country.Even the beach scenes could have been filmed in or around Vancouver.Why was so much expense put into filming in so many locations? It didn't add to the story...it didn't take away or develop the plot.All scenes could have been basically shot in 1 city - whether it was Vancouver or Jamaico r Mexico...but hauling the crew and equipment all over the pace was retarded and useless.It's not an overly funny movie, it's not a boring movie but it lacks the polish...and for a budget of this script, there could have been 5 more movies made that are just as entertaining.
One of the most awful unfunny comedies of 2007.
posted on 26 Aug 2009I thought Robin Williams was careful on how he picked a film role, but sometimes even the best can make mistakes. This movie was a huge mistake, although Robin Williams managed to slip by with a few chuckles, but I realized his humor only works if he plays off other interesting characters around him. License to Wed does not have any. The story starts with Sadie(Mandy Moore) and Ben(John Krasinski), a couple who are so much in love, and really want to get married, but Reverned Frank(Robin Williams) wants to put them through series of crazy tests, in order to prove there love for another. The big problem for me is, it was not funny one bit, with the exception of Robin Williams, the rest of the film was kind of depressing. Mainly because of the Sadie and Ben character, there a little bit funny in the beginning, but there humor just quickly vanishes. The poor Ben character just comes across a likable schmo, who takes it, but when he dishes it, everybody looks at him like he shouldn't have done that. And the Sadie character is annoying cause spends the most of the movie belittling Ben, and she doesn't even realize she's doing it. Wasn't American Dreamz(2006) enough of a humiliation for Mandy Moore. Only Robin Williams makes this movie memorable.