License to Wed

License to Wed (2007)

US Air Flight 753, Philadelphia, PA to Seattle, WA

October 08, 2007

* / ****

As an unbiased critic who prides himself on giving every movie he watches a fair shake, can I, in good conscience review a film that I viewed in its entirety with the mute button on? I’m not sure how that scenario rates in the critic’s handbook, but if ever there was a movie that can be fairly judged and critiqued under such a circumstance, License to Wed would be that film.

I watched this screwball comedy during a 6hour flight across the United States, a scenario that instantly lends itself to entertainment desperation. Still, at no time was I so desperate that even for a moment did I feel the need to plug in my headphones to hear the aural eloquences of License to Wed. What that tells you about my opinion of Robin Williams in a clerical collar with his similarly dressed boxer dog side-kick I can’t determine, but I can relay with complete certainty that Mandy Moore isn’t a very good actress, at least in this picture (though her impeccable tan is most impressive) and The Office’s John Krasinski as her aspiring husband-to-be fiancée once again confirms that he is a man who knows but three expressions. For those not familiar with the American version of The Office I will not divulge what exactly are those expressions, but I will note that knowledge of that particular spoiler is about the only detail of this dreadful comedy that gets a laugh; that and, of course Moore’s impeccably impressive tan and cutesy smile. Moore is better than this, that’s for sure.

Have you seen Meet the Parents? Well, License to Wed is Meet the Preacher with Robin Williams playing the role of the short, loud, obnoxious guy instead of Ben Stiller. Sound or no sound that fact is blatantly obvious and about the only detail you’ll never need to know about this forgettable slice of 2007 (un)popular culture.