Licence to Wed

This was a film I thought would be interesting to view but the critical reviews mean I shall not rush to the cinema but await its appearance on free television.

License to Wed

License to Wed (spelled Licence to Wed outside the United States) is a 2007 romantic comedy film starring Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, and John Krasinski and directed by Ken Kwapis. The film was released in theaters on July 3, 2007.

The film has several connections to the American version of The Office. Four Office actors are featured: John Krasinski, (Jim Halpert), Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin), Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor), and Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone). In addition, Kwapis has directed nine episodes of The Office, including the pilot.

Plot

Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) has always longed to marry the man of her dreams in her family church. Though she has found her lifetime companion in Ben Murphy (John Krasinski), Sadie is distressed to learn that St. Augustine's has only one wedding slot available over the next two years, though after re-checking their planning book, they find that the wedding can be held in three weeks. While Sadie and Ben do qualify for the slot, the church's eccentric minister, Reverend Frank (Robin Williams), won't wed the couple until they agree to attend his prenuptial course (shortened, due to the new date, from three months to three weeks). Now as their wedding date draws near, Sadie and Ben must attend every one of Reverend Frank's unusual classes and complete a series of homework assignments designed specifically to irritate one another — in order to get past puppy love and ensure that their union will have a sound foundation.

To Ben's dismay Frank does not allow pre-marital sex.

On behalf of Frank his young assistant breaks into the couple's house and bugs it. Thus Frank and his assistant can listen to all conversations, except that Frank does not let his assistant listen to adult parts. Ben discovers the microphone/transmitter, but does not tell Sadie, for fear that she will accuse him of lying and having acquired the bug device himself.

In one part of the course the couple has to care for twin robot babies. They work on Ben's nerves and he destroys one. Bystanders think he is killing a real baby.

Shortly before the wedding Sadie changes her mind, among other things because Ben has not prepared marriage vows as Frank instructed them to do. Sadie goes on holiday to the honeymoon destination. Frank travels there too, they reconcile, and Frank marries them there.

Critical reception

Critical reaction to the film was mostly negative. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an 7% rating and a critical consensus of "broad and formulaic". Metacritic.com rated it a 30 out of 100, for "Generally negative reviews". It was reviewed in Variety as "an astonishingly flat romantic comedy, filled with perplexing choices." Numerous reviewers, including Brian Lowry of Variety and MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Philosopher described Williams' character as "creepy" and more worthy of a horror-film villain than a comic lead.