Sunday, January 25, 2009
Even The Brides Are Fighting!
Gosh, violence has all but taken over this planet. Now, even for the supposedly happiest and most beautiful occasion in our lives (at least so for girls!) has failed to duck the attacks and ambushes in the likes of secretive sabotages and outright competition to see who is the best bride of the day.
With full knowledge of every wimp and fancy, likes and dislikes, secret histories and dreamy futures of each other, Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) make use of every singe ounce of secrets they knew since childhood days to their own advantage when a turn of events caused the unthinkable to happen – their wedding fall on the same date, same place and same time.
It should have been a happy occasion still, in Chinese we like to say it is “double happiness” except for a little problem – both of them have sworn to be each other’s maid-of-honour. Now they can’t, not when they are brides at the same time!
This Catch-22 situation may be a catastrophe for others, but it should see a harmonious and peaceful resolution between two childhood friends who have been through thick and thin, good and bad and who are probably closer than real sisters are.
What I like about this movie is not just about the hilarious sabotaging acts that Liv and Emma do to each other. They are just there for entertaining purposes. The underlying elements that are brought out through those acts serve more meaning to me. Like the kind of chemistry they have. How only they probably know the deepest, darkest secret of the other.
The wedding preparation is another part of the movie that caught my attention a lot. Liv’s fiancé, Daniel’s (Steve Howey) acceptance and love for her is nicely contrasted with Emma’s husband-to-be, Fletcher’s (Chris Patt) denial of the Emma that she is now. He cannot find himself supporting this girl who now knows how to assert herself and stamp her foot on something she truly wants badly. He cannot find himself accepting this used to be the girl who is always being pushed over and who avoids the limelight.
At one point when both of them are embroiled in an argument when he complains about her as she talks about how she is the Best Bride of the Night (probably the nth time!) in her and Liv’s bachelorette party and he clams up and refuses to talk anymore, in my mind, there’s this little voice that says “If I were Emma, I would cancel the wedding.”
Why? How can I when the wedding is only 1 week away? Because I see the signs! I see how this is going to be the start of a wrong union, when two people get together because they have been with no one else for the past 10 years. And during this time, things change, circumstances change, and more importantly, people change.
Catch the movie Bride Wars for some funny tickling moments and some nice doses of touching friendships and the true meaning of “bonds” in relationships. The acting of Kate and Anne is precise and good, and even though the plot has a rather predictable ending, and an almost cliché one, I’ll still recommend anyone who’s considering to head for the cinemas during the CNY holidays to give this a go.
Now, just thinking about that particular scene brings tears to my eyes.
P.S Now, the final bit that I find is heart-warming is when Emma’s father goes to Liv and gives her his blessings, as what he says “blessings from my generation”. Now, don’t we all crave for and love to have blessings from our parents and our elders? That is such a touching moment for me.