One word for film: Disappointing

By George Gust

“The “Shotgun Wedding” is the latest straight to streaming high concept action/ comedy film offering from Amazon Prime. A couple’s (Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel) extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by pirates. In the process of saving their eccentric families they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.

“Shotgun Wedding” is a disappointing movie. It’s the kind of set up for a film that should appeal to a lot of movie lovers; from the people looking for a little romance and the people who loved the movie “Die Hard.” However, for all its star power and good intentions the ultimate movie we’re presented with is lacking in most everything it set out to do. A comedy that feels like it’s trying too hard and a light action movie that’s not trying hard enough.

There is a hollowness to “Shotgun Wedding” that gives the audience the feeling that everyone involved is just going through the motions while enjoying a tropical vacation of a film shoot. The film’s stars Lopez and Duhamel have an easy kind of on-screen chemistry that basically coasts of their natural movie star charisma, but not much more. There are moments that work between the two, but the flat and played out script gives them precious little to work with. Even the usual electric comedic performer Jennifer Coolidge can’t make her over-the-top mother-inlaw character shine through the uninspired script that aims at the most clichéd generational comic stylings.

Overall, “Shotgun Wedding” is an R rated action/comedy that wants to be “Die Hard” meets “The Hangover” but grossly misses the mark. Too often the movie deflates the danger of the hostage situation in favor of silly unfunny takes that were played out 5 years ago with the kind of “aren’t new age people silly?” and “This mother from Midwest is out of touch!” brand of boomer humor. And for this kind of broad comedy to work you need to have characters that have a dynamic that somewhat resembles reality. All “Shotgun Wedding” can offer is a script that constantly and painstakingly tells you who these characters are and what they want, which provides a shallow and dull movie experience.

“Shotgun Wedding” is rated R for language and some violence/bloody images.

1 out of 5 stars

To reach George Gust for a comment on this review, please send an e-mail to him at this address gust.george@gmail.com

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Okc

Philharmonic to have show

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic continues its E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Discovery Family Series with “It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Superphilharmonic!” Sunday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m. at Civic Center Music Hall.

Guest Conductor Ron Spigelman and the OKCPHIL will take the audience on a musical journey around the world as they track Superman’s progress to the Civic Center. As Superman circles the globe you might hear “Toreador” from Bizet’s Carmen as he crosses over Spain, “Great Gate of Kyiv” as he crosses Ukraine, and “Stars and Stripes Forever” as he enters the United States.

Our Discovery Family Series includes music from movie tunes and classics to popular songs played by the full orchestra. Performances take place in the Thelma Gaylord Theater concert hall at the Civic Center and last about an hour. Musical programming is geared to children ages 4 to 13, and the preconcert lobby activities include arts, crafts, dance, and games related to the theme of the concert. Tickets start at only $9. All Discovery Family Series tickets are general admission tickets.

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