"License to Wed" reactions

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"I will confess that the only thing that kept me watching License to Wed until the end (apart from being paid to do so) was the faith, perhaps misplaced, that I will not see a worse movie this year.

John Krasinski, Robin Williams, Mandy Moore

"Come to think of it, the picture might be useful in certain circumstances, much in the way that Reverend Frank's training program is supposed to be. If the beloved with whom you see License to Wed can't stop talking about how great it was, you might want to cancel the nuptials. Or, if it's too late for that, call a lawyer." -- from A.O. Scott's N.Y. Times 7.3.07 review.

License to Wed currently has an 8% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The only person to give it anything resembling a pass is Susan Granger.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 3, 2007 at 10:35 AM

comment #1

BurmaShave says ...

So Robin Williams is done, right? He's squandered all the good will from his brilliant work in GOOD MORNING VIETNAM, DEAD POET'S SOCIETY, THE FISHER KING, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, GOOD WILL HUNTING, and INSOMNIA, right? You're going to go after him with the same ferocity as Eddie Murphy, right?

By the way, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I would probably see this is Mandy Moore got naked.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 3, 2007 10:56 AM

comment #2

Josh Massey says ...

I had heard a number of people from NBC's "The Office" were involved (on both sides of the camera), and had high hopes. And then I saw the trailer. I have no idea what anybody involved was thinking.

Posted by Josh Massey at July 3, 2007 11:05 AM

comment #3

Bocephus says ...

RV was his tour de force. That film really set the bar for post-modern cinematic excellence.

He was pretty good in One Hour Photo too.

Posted by Bocephus at July 3, 2007 11:09 AM

comment #4

Dzayson says ...

Robin Williams deserves the Eddie Murphy treatment, Wells. Give him hell! He hasn't been funny in years. I watched the latest Comedy Relief special (benefitting Katrina victims) and I was stunned at how awful he's become. Billy and Whoopi seemed to feel the same way. I do feel bad for those talented Office folks who got reeled into this abortion, especially Krasinski. Let's hope he gets another chance with a better script.

Posted by Dzayson at July 3, 2007 11:12 AM

comment #5

nola says ...

I have no desire to see Krasinski on the big screen. He's funny on the show but to carry a film? Then I saw the trailer, which confirmed my decision. I'm confused. How did this movie get a greenlight?

Posted by nola at July 3, 2007 11:16 AM

comment #6

Walter Sobchak says ...

No Way! Susan Granger liked it?! And she's such a hard-ass, too!

Actually there was a time that I really thought there was no such living person as Susan Granger. I was convinced she was a studio publicity department contrivance. I mean, how could she like EVERYTHING? Turns out she is a real person..... a real quote-whore that is.

Posted by Walter Sobchak at July 3, 2007 11:21 AM

comment #7

Walter Sobchak says ...

Thank you. Good night. Drive carefully.

Posted by Walter Sobchak at July 3, 2007 11:22 AM

comment #8

BurmaShave says ...

Dzayson, Krasinski has Clooney's LEATHERHEADS coming this fall. Let's just let this unfortunate moment pass in silence.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 3, 2007 11:41 AM

comment #9

Craig Kennedy says ...

I'm telling you, everytime I see this trailer at the Burbank AMC..it KILLS. People love it. This and Chuck and Larry. Even the parallel parking joke.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 3, 2007 12:12 PM

comment #10

lesterg says ...

If this can somehow gross under 40 million, my faith in humanity will be (briefly) restored.

Posted by lesterg at July 3, 2007 12:21 PM

comment #11

DavidF says ...

I swear I remember when Williams was not just funny but good.
What was the last GOOD movie he did/role he had? 1 Hr Photo? Insomnia?

And I think Krasinski and almost everyone else on The Office is great. It's things like this and Get Smart that really make me wonder what Hollywood does to people. Carrell can't need the money and I can't imagine the Get Smart script was a killer but I guess you need to be 'out there' or keeping your quote high or whatever it is they do in La La Land.

Sad, man, when talented people do such shite.

Posted by DavidF at July 3, 2007 12:48 PM

comment #12

Josh Massey says ...

If Leatherheads is any good, License to Wed could easily become John Krasinski's The Man With One Red Shoe.

Posted by Josh Massey at July 3, 2007 12:52 PM

comment #13

alynch says ...

Robin Williams has reached the Woody Allen stage of his career, where his comedy has gotten old and is no longer funny, and he's only interesting when he tries dramatic roles.

Posted by alynch at July 3, 2007 1:48 PM

comment #14

christian says ...

"everytime I see this trailer at the Burbank AMC...it KILLS. People love it."

another good reason to not be in burbank.

move cj! save your soul!

Posted by christian at July 3, 2007 2:20 PM

comment #15

dangovich says ...

Someone jog my memory...was Robin Williams ever really that funny?

Posted by dangovich at July 3, 2007 3:31 PM

comment #16

Craig Kennedy says ...

Christian, I leave my soul safely at home when I go there for the free parking and cheap matinees.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 3, 2007 3:53 PM

comment #17

The Winchester says ...

Robin Williams was really funy to me when I was younger. I think that after Mrs. Doubtfire, was when I woke up and realized that he's not all that funny.

And yet, I think he's funny as hell in Death to Smoochy. Seriously.

I don't get it either.

Posted by The Winchester at July 3, 2007 4:39 PM

comment #18

Craig Kennedy says ...

I loved Mork and Mindy before my brain had finished fully forming. I seem to remember parts of a couple of his HBO specials were really funny. But for the most part, now that you ask, I can't think of a single moment of his recorded career I would like to revisit.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 3, 2007 7:19 PM

comment #19

bone says ...

No Dangovich, he was not. Good Morning Vietnam? Dead Poets Society? Jesus those were awful movies. And all because of him. Great, John Wayne and Ethel Murman inpersonations. Let me put down this drink to hold my sides. Not only were those roles unfunny, but they also had the added bonus of being really pretentious. Robin Williams has always sucked, and if you just now realized it, it was your fault this movie got greenlit.

Posted by bone at July 3, 2007 7:19 PM

comment #20

erikwithak says ...

I actually popped in Insomnia last night and was surprised by how well it held up. Not great, but still interesting. I'm pretty sure it was the last time Williams mattered... Pacino too honestly.

Count me in the "i just don't get it" section.

Posted by erikwithak at July 3, 2007 8:19 PM

comment #21

le corbeau says ...

Damn, and it looked so good!

I'm convinced that Williams' deal with Satan was that, once he achieved stardom, he would have to star in Satan's ten worst ideas for movies-- "Guy becomes his own nanny," "Robot grows real human feelings," "Adult comedian plays 5-year-old with aging disease," "Peter Pan grows up," "Whimsical toymaker has evil brother who's a general and they fight a toy battle," "Guy goes to Hell to look for his dead wife and kids," etc.

Posted by le corbeau at July 3, 2007 8:39 PM

comment #22

Terry McCarty says ...

Actually, I'd like to see a nude Greco-Roman wrestling match between Robin Williams and Al Franken to decide who's going to be the court jester of Hillary's administration.

Just joking.

Posted by Terry McCarty at July 4, 2007 12:11 AM

comment #23

malibugigolo says ...

I had to put up with an English teacher for two long years in high school that demanded we call him "O Captain, my Captain!"

And for that.....I will never forgive you Robin Williams

Posted by malibugigolo at July 4, 2007 1:10 AM

comment #24

christian says ...

williams has been great in films. he was POPEYE, still his best role. and don't forget the wonderful GARP. he can be a brilliant comic but something happened...he was hilarious in a cameo in the underrated and fantastic SHAKES THE CLOWN and his LARRY SANDERS episode was terrific.

Posted by christian at July 4, 2007 1:25 PM

comment #25

Terry McCarty says ...

In terms of Williams' serious work: the now-mostly-forgotten SEIZE THE DAY (shot for PBS by Fielder Cook) and the more recent THE NIGHT VISITOR deserve mention.

Posted by Terry McCarty at July 4, 2007 11:09 PM

comment #26