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The Groomsmen (2006)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:14
Fresh:8
Rotten:6
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Director and star Burns returns to his home turf -- dialogue-driven examinations of the relationships between men and women -- with uneven results.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for pervasive language and brief nudity
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Jul 14, 2006 Limited
Synopsis: In the same vein as Edward Burns's previous films (THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, SHE'S THE ONE), THE GROOMSMEN explores the difference between getting older and growing up. Written, directed by, and... In the same vein as Edward Burns's previous films (THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, SHE'S THE ONE), THE GROOMSMEN explores the difference between getting older and growing up. Written, directed by, and starring Burns, the film takes place in the days leading up to the wedding of Long Island-born Paulie (Burns). Joining Paulie for a week of alcohol-soaked bonding prior to the big day are his older brother Jimbo (Donal Logue), local buddy Des (Matthew Lillard), Cousin Mike (Jay Mohr), and long-absent childhood friend T.C. (John Leguizamo). While Paulie deals with a classic case of cold feet in anticipation of marrying his pregnant fiancé (Brittany Murphy), his groomsmen are inspired to deal with demons of their own. T.C.'s arrival, along with the pressures of seeing a close friend settle down, prompts much self-examination as old bonds are tested and new truths revealed. While the simple story here is pretty familiar territory, things are kept fresh thanks to an authentic sense of location and stellar performances by Jay Mohr as the perpetually childlike Mike (who at age 33, still lives at home with his father), and by Matthew Lillard as family guy Des, the one character in the film who seems to have come to grips with his own adulthood. Through extensive conversation over drinks, and physical squabbles at the softball diamond, these five friends grapple with one question: what makes a man a man? Pondering the question of why males nowadays put off the so-called marks of adulthood that their fathers achieved straight out of high school, THE GROOMSMEN offers more than one answer. [More]
Starring: Edward Burns, John Leguizamo, Brittany Murphy, John Mahoney
Starring: Edward Burns, John Leguizamo, Brittany Murphy, John Mahoney, Heather Burns, Jessica Capshaw, Matthew Lillard, Donal Logue, Jay Mohr
Director: Edward Burns
Director: Edward Burns
Producer: Margot Bridger, Philippe Martinez
Studio: Bauer Martinez Studios
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Reviews for The Groomsmen
This is the movie I believe Burns has been trying to make since The Brothers McMullen, 11 years ago.
Traffics in such familiar territory as sibling rivalries, generational estrangements and broken dreams. But it slowly, sometimes too slowly, connects with the viewer.
The Groomsmen may be low-cal Cassavetes or Secrets and Lies for mooks, but Burns knows his turf. The marvel is that after seven films he's still finding fresh grass.
In a film of minor ambition, [the characters are] all worthy company.
The problem is that Burns -- who insists on writing all his own material -- isn't a very good writer.
Instead of whimsy there's nastiness, and instead of promising newcomers there's a cluster of formerly hot actors gone cold.
The Groomsmen captures a single, specific moment, when responsibilities await but adulthood is still unwelcome. If their predicament strikes a chord, you may want to join Burns' boys for their final hurrah.
You have to suffer through a lot of down time in The Groomsmen to get to the good stuff.
The movie snaps sharply to life every now and then, and its unfashionable decency really gets to you.
Edward Burns paints a scathing portrait of raucous high school buddies clutching at their rock n roll glory days as they push 35.
The revelations aren't all that surprising and the build-up isn't all that interesting. At least not as interesting as watching Lillard, of all people, persuasively playing the most evolved and serene of this clique.
Edward Burns' best riff yet on guys trying to sort out their feelings about women.
Burns remains an enigma: After six features, it's still impossible to tell if he's a filmmaker with something to say or merely one of the longest-running novelty acts in modern movies.
As time goes by, the supposedly everyday middleclass lifestyles effortlessly enjoyed by his regular Joes begin to seem suspiciously like the province of the idle rich.
Latest News for The Groomsmen
July 13, 2006:
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