An ode to old-school slapstick comedy

Film Review

Tinashe Kusema

SO, the Super Bowl has come and gone!

Rather than the conversation revolving around Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs, everyone seems to be talking about Barbadian songstress Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance.

For those who either do not follow American football or simply do not care about the sport, Chiefs beat Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.

However, my issue is not with the sport, but with the halftime show, which is one of the star attractions of the event.

Rihanna put up what many thought was a forgettable performance.

It seems everyone with a keyboard or internet access is an authority, and those on social platforms are probably the worst.

The anonymity social media gives keyboard warriors “assumed” power that is often being abused. Many claimed Rihanna’s performance lacked the pizazz associated with such a glamorous stage. The singer was fully clothed, so were her dancers.

There were also no surprises or guest appearances like what 50 Cent did during last year’s show. The 34-year-old simply went through her catalogue of hits.

I happen to be among the minority who actually enjoyed the performance.

I really enjoyed its simplicity, which I believe is emulable.

The Super Bowl is only a point of reference here. I will not go into detail about the loathing I have for some of the clips, comments and commentary I came across.

However, I do expect Netflix’s latest release, “Shotgun Wedding”, to be one of those films that will receive the “Rihanna treatment” from both critics and fans.

The film tells the story of Darcy Rivera (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom Fowler (Josh Duhamel), a 30-something couple who have decided to bring their two families together on a remote island in the Philippines as they tie the knot.

Unfortunately, their supposed “perfect wedding” turns into a nightmare when it is revealed that both parties are starting to get cold feet over their impending nuptials.

Before either of them can address the issue, a band of pirates gate-crashes the wedding, demanding US$45 million from the bride’s father, Robert Rivera (Cheech Marin).

The soon-to-wed couple then decide to put their differences aside and embark on a hilarious rescue mission. At face value, the plot is rather simple and very predictable.

However, there are many twists and turns scattered in the movie.

The sole purpose of every comedy movie is to elicit laughter and, in that regard, “Shotgun Wedding” scores high marks.

Granted, not every gag lands as it is supposed to, but humour is subjective.

Writer Mark Hammer penned a simple yet funny story, which makes great use of its fantastic and extremely talented cast.

Lopez seems hell-bent on starring in old-school comedies and romantic comedies, and she gets my respect.

Given that Marvel seems to have set the bar high and today’s studio executives seem only interested in a flashy and complex plot and computer-generated imagery, it pleases me to see that someone out there is representing the old school. I would even go so far as to say that Lopez is the modern-day Adam Sandler, or well on her way to earning that moniker.

While Duhamel and Lopez do most of the heavy lifting, the supporting cast and characters are the ones who really shine brightest.

Jennifer Coolidge does what she knows best and steals the show as the overbearing and hilarious mother of the groom, Carol Fowler.

She is funny and demonstrates impeccable comic timing. Other notable supporting acts include Marin and Sonia Braga (Renata Ortiz), who star as an estranged couple and parents of the bride, as well as Lenny Kravitz (Sean).

Another underappreciated perk of the simple movie plot or premise is that it allows certain characters and subplots to breathe and get some much-needed screen time.

For instance, a new girlfriend or mistress (D’Arcy Carden’s Harriet) is thrown into the mix to make the interaction between the parents of the bride even more awkward and funny. Rockstar Lenny Kravitz’s character, Sean, happens to be the bride’s former boyfriend. His mere presence helps the soon-to-wed couple realise and address their issues or insecurities. While the action sequences are the vehicle that drives the movie, it is important to note that this film is a love story at its core.

Hammer, the writer, does a commendable job of balancing humour and action well.