The Groomsmen (2006)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Edward Burns

Writer (WGA):

Edward Burns (written by)

Release Date:

22 September 2006 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

There's a difference between getting older and growing up.

Plot:

A groom (Ed Burns) and his four attendants wrestle with issues related to friendship and maturity a week before the big day.

Plot Keywords:

Brother Brother Relationship | Mets Jersey | Female Nudity | Pickup Truck | Baseball Cap

Cast

Edward Burns	...	Paulie
Heather Burns	...	Jules
John Leguizamo	...	TC
Matthew Lillard	...	Dez Howard
Donal Logue	...	Jimbo
Jay Mohr	...	Cousin Mike Sullivan
Brittany Murphy	...	Sue
Shari Albert	...	Tina Howard
Jessica Capshaw	...	Jen
Spencer Fox	...	Little Jack
Kevin Kash	...	Strip Club MC
Amy Leonard	...	Crystal
Arthur J. Nascarella	...	Mr. B (as Arthur Nascarella)
John F. O'Donohue	...	Pops (as John O'Donohue)
Joe Pistone	...	Top Cat

Also Known As:

Die Freunde des Bräutigams (Germany) (TV title) [de]
Los amigos del novio (Spain) [es]
Otra despedida de soltero (Argentina) (DVD title) [es]
Petit mariage entre amis (France) (TV title) [fr]
The Boys Are Back in Town - Die Freunde des Bräutigams (Germany) (DVD title) [de]
Viimeiset viritykset (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:6 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Marlboro Road Gang Productions

Trivia:

John Mahoney (I) played the father of Edward Burns in this film, but all of his scenes were cut. However, you can catch a glimpse of him on the left during the wedding footage as the camera follows Edward Burns and Brittany Murphy out of the church. The deleted scenes can be found on the DVD bonus features.

Quotes:

Mike Sullivan: [to T.C] Gay pride! Woo-hoo!

Movie Connections:

References "Little House on the Prairie" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Four Cheers

The Burns is still on fire!

Writer-Director Edward Burns has groomed another creative & wily film in his latest marry, I mean merry, offering "The Groomsmen". Burns also stars as Paulie, a Long Island lifer who is having cold feet by getting the all too familiar "till death due you part" phobia on marrying his pregnant fiancé Sue, played by the chirpy Brittany Murphy. However, the primary premise of "The Groomsmen" is the groomsmen themselves. They are Paulie's lifelong crackers, I mean buddies, who each have a certain dilemma. Donald Logue plays Jimbo, Paulie's beer-quenching brother who is a strip bar dweller & ignores his devoted, but yet, growing impatient wife Julianna (Heather Burns). Next coming through the groomsmen aisle, we have Des (Mathew Lilliard), the dutiful husband & father who gets a candid excitement in getting his 80's high school cover band reunited which obviously are comprised of le groomsmen themselves. Also grooming through, we got the unripe Mike portrayed by Jay Mohr; Mike's childlike & obsessive antics get him in "not to be or like Mike" hot water turmoil with his ex-girlfriend and even with a few of the groomsmen. John Leguziamo plays T.C., which might stand for "too cool" by having a ripe aura about him, but it might also stand for "top covert" because he has been out of town & touch from his crazy clan for eight years due to a personal secret. The ensemble acting of "The Groomsmen" were lords of the auteur rings. However, the best acting men were Mohr & Leguziamo. Steady Eddie's crafty screenplay does ring similar bells in theme & structure to some of his past independent films. However, why should Burns cinematically divorce himself from his exceptional & practical scribing style. Burns once again proves that he masterfully incorporates friendship, family, guilt, Catholicism, Irish-upbringing, and New York homage to his film-work. "The Groomsmen" marches itself as one of the best films of 2006 . ***** Excellent