Instead of "I do," The Wedding Planner says "I would if I could." Starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, the movie means well. It wants to worship at the altar of the great romantic comedies from the '30s and '40s. But first-time director Adam Shankman and first-time scriptwriters Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis keep tripping over their own feet on the way down the aisle. The direction lacks grace, the script lacks wit, and yet...and yet I can't say I didn't enjoy myself. Maybe I just like weddings. Lopez's Mary certainly does. A professional wedding planner, she approaches her job like General Eisenhower going into D-Day. In fact, she's so absorbed in planning other people's weddings that she's neglected to take the necessary steps toward her own. Then she meets McConaughey's Steve, who seems to be everything she's looking for in a guy. One small problem: He's her new client. Which is to say, he has a prior engagement with Fran (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, who's got the Cameron Diaz role).
Think My Best Friend's Wedding Planner. Or don't think at all, which will probably help the movie go down smoothly. There's good supporting work from Judy Greer and Kathy Najimy. And Lopez and McConaughey twinkle, twinkle like little stars. But the movie itself isn't quite there--a bridesmaid, not a bride.
