Four Weddings and a Funeral

  • Review Date: August 28, 2005
  • R
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1994
Review

Common Sense Media says

Sexy, funny, romantic comedy at its finest.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film revolves around the (dys)functional relationships of a man and his single, married, gay, and straight friends. It shows incidents of casual sex and somewhat graphically depicts and describes sexual relationships. Even though comedic, many women are negatively portrayed as emotionally unstable, dependent, and dying to marry. The film also includes a string of profanities as the hero – Charles -- responds to his inability to attend events in a timely manner. His foul language seems funny and endearing, rather than problematic.

  • Positive messages0
    Although this film does show the pains of a man who cannot maintain a meaningful relationship, as well as a touching gay relationship, it also depicts many people who enter into sex lightly.
  • Violence0
    No violence except an occasional slap on the face by a scorned woman.
  • Sex3
    Repeated sexual banter, extended scene of someone trapped in a room while two people have loud and goofy sex, indiscriminate sex, and drunken lasciviousness.
  • Language3
    Not much, but starts off with "f--k" early (and frequently, in that scene).
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Much drinking at wedding receptions which leads to outlandish behavior and sexual escapades.
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What's the story?

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL chronicles the tale of the roundabout -- and seemingly fated -- courtship of Charles (Hugh Grant) and Carrie (Andie MacDowell). The story examines the need for finding love and the challenge of keeping love. Set in various weddings of friends and acquaintances, the film frames Charles's lackluster love life through the romantic (and sometimes tragic) celebrations of others. Always a groomsman and never a groom, he habitually disrupts the ceremonies through his lateness, irresponsibility, and all around bad luck. Ultimately, Charles must make tough decisions about what he thinks he should want and what he truly desires.

Is it any good?

 

Four Weddings and a Funeral marks one of the early high points in Hugh Grant's romantic comedy oeuvre. As in films such as Notting Hill and Two Weeks Notice, he portrays an irresistible flake with the perfect amount of English sheepishness. The film includes stellar supporting performances from Simon Callow (A Room With a View, Shakespeare in Love, Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) and Rowan Atkinson (Bean, Johnny English). Overall, the film sports a fantastic supporting cast. Like many Grant romantic comedies, the limelight is generously shared with a bevy of quirky supporting actors. Four Weddings and a Funeral is a fine example of English romantic comedy.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about emotional commitment issues and what dating is really like.

This review was written by Kelly Kessler
Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
 
Pointless
Sex, sex and did I mention sex? All this movie is about. Casual sex. Yah, completely worthless.
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Helped me decide (19) | Had useful details (16) | Read my mind (19)
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
 
One of my all time fav romatic comedies
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (14) | Had useful details (14) | Read my mind (16)
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This review was written by Kelly Kessler
Studio:Providence Entertainment
Director:Mike Newell
Cast:Andie MacDowell, Hugh Grant, Kristin Scott Thomas
Genre:Comedy
Run time:117 minutes
Theatrical release date:March 9, 1994
DVD release date:June 24, 1997
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:language, and for some sexuality.
This review was written by Kelly Kessler
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
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NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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