The Best Man

UNHITCHED is a fairly well made, generic Hollywood love story that provides a reasonably entertaining evening because of the actors cast in the roles. The story by director Stefan Schwartz and Ed Roe is recycled fluff with nothing new added, yet despite that fact the pacing and acting bring off a fun little film.

As marriage enters the agenda of old friends, promiscuous James (Steve John Shepherd) is scheduled to marry Sarah (Amy Smart, always a pleasure to watch) and asks his best friend Olly (the talented and hunky Irishman Stuart Townsend in a very nice comedic turn) to be his Best Man. Olly, a writer whose first chapters have been lauded by his publisher (Simon Callow) and that early praise has thrown him into writer's block forcing him to take a menial job as a PA under grumpy feminist Tania (Johdi May), fears accepting the role of Best Man out of the challenge tied to writing the wedding reception speech. He is encouraged not to accept the role by his roommate friend Murray (5'4" Seth Green, who has many comedy roles to his credit - this one being the first with a fine British accent). Murray knows of James' peppered past and sets out to stop the wedding - especially when he discovers that Olly has fallen for Sarah, mistaking her for Sarah's Maid of Honor Becka (Kate Ashfield).

Olly is a true friend and will sacrifice his longing for Sarah out of his loyalty to James - until Murray proves that James indeed is a promiscuous lothario. And the chase, with many a pratfall, begins as Olly ultimately sides with Murray to prevent his losing Sarah.

Townsend makes a fine turn out of his obvious role, proving that he not only can master dramatic and intrigue roles, but light comedy ones as well. Seth Green may be small but he is a powerhouse of physical comedic talent. Amy Smart doesn't have much to do, but when she is on screen she glows with intelligence as well as beauty. It is the cast that makes this film work and they are enough of a pleasure to watch to merit sitting through another re-telling of a tired story. Grady Harp

Olly Pickering (Stuart Townsend) and Murray (Seth Green) are childhood friends. They drift apart when Olly goes to college making new friends like James. James and Murray hate each other. Olly graduates and starts writing. Despite early promise, he soon suffers a crisis of confidence. He reconnects with a successful Murray and settles into a drab life without ambitions. James asks Olly to be his best man but he's afraid of writing the best man's speech. On top of everything, he falls for the bride Sarah Marie Barker (Amy Smart).

The story is functional rom-com. There are a couple oddities. I can't accept Seth Green as British. It's funny that Amy Smart has no accents while the sister played by Kate Ashfield is definitely British. Stuart Townsend doesn't have it in him to do slapstick comedy. Despite all of that, the story has all the elements of the rom-com formula and it's somewhat functional as such.

I'm one of these people that loves to think that new romantic comedies can all be as good as Four Weddings and A Funeral, or Notting Hill, before I go to see them. But they can't, sadly.

However, they all have their place, and some of the better ones in recent memory (Just Like Heaven; So I Married an Axe Murderer; Addicted to Love) all have one thing in common: memorable characters put into memorable situations.

The Best Man/Unhitched does, but it isn't Stuart Townsend, who does a decent job of things as the leading man (and girls, he's just as cute but at least somewhat vulnerable unlike LeStat in Queen of the Damned). It isn't Amy Smart, who does a decent job of things as the leading lady (and fellas, she's every bit as cute as we remember her in Road Trip, and gets more screen time, thank the gods).

So who is it? Seth Green of course. And this little fella doesn't get my vote simply because I'm 5'5" like he is (give or take an inch or two). Instead it's because: his accent is really rather good; his character is fun and unpredictable; and we'd ALL be rooting for him or doing what he does in the movie, if our best mate needed our "help".

So is the script decent? Not bad. At times it doesn't flow, and the first half of the movie the dialogue and situations seem a little forced. But there IS an honesty in it, almost as though this or at least part of the premise has happened to the writers or someone they know. The second half of the movie is far better and moves along nicely.

The acting? Not bad. Everyone except Seth Green just does what is required of them and not much more. The Seth-meister (and I feel like I can call him that) is far more animated and approachable than his turns as Oz in Buffy, or in films like Rat Race and The Italian Job.

Can we believe the romance and the motivation behind Olly's (Townsend) actions? Somewhat. He's a bit of a wuss. "Come on Olly, catch a wakeup!" you'll be wanting to shout at the screen.

Will we feel like we enjoyed the past 90 minutes at the end of the movie? I sure did. I'm guessing if you go in with the same low-ish expectations as me then you will as well.

Verdict: 7 out of 10 - It's nothing special, but as a date movie, a cuddle-on-a-rainy-day-DVD or a pick-me-up after some bad news, it works...

Bonus Hollywood value: Seth Green should be teaching Don Cheadle (in Ocean's 11) how to do an English accent!

This is coming from someone who doesn't often watch romantic comedies. Often, romantic comedies involve the typical Jane Austen-like ending (meaning always the same), but for once, it's good to see even the smallest bit of change in the genre and the change in this particular romantic comedy–not that it changes all other clichés of the film–is that the protagonist is a man. Ollie is an Irish writer suffering from a five-year-old case of writer's block that has caused him all the trouble be can get and his troubles get worse when an old womanizing school mate of his asks him to be his best man at his wedding and Ollie finds himself falling painfully in love with the bride, Sarah. Though he tries to oppress his feelings and move on, his best friend Murray goes through the most insane schemes to bring Sarah and Ollie together.

Typical? Yes. Predictable? Very. Climax? Corny as a cornfield. But I can't deny that I did enjoy watching this film, even if it did mean I would have to wash the girly side off of me for a week. I must admit, I only wanted to see this because I've always had quite the crush on Stuart Townsend and I thought seeing him as a dork would be enjoyable, because what kind of girl can resist a guy who can laugh at himself? Naturally, I had to adore him as a lovable loser and I thought he was very enjoyable to watch. Of course, I cannot forget his chemistry with Seth Green, who is absolutely hilarious as the best friend, who, I have to say, was one clever son of a gun! The way his insane antics worked was both hilarious and intriguing at the same time and clearly, though he isn't even British, Green has done his homework when it comes to British humor (I sensed quite a lot of Jeff Murdock of "Coupling" in his performance).

Unfortunately, Amy Smart's performance was not at all remarkable. Her acting, if acting is what you want to call it, was very flat and her character also seemed just as such. To me, she seemed much like the kind of character who's only there to be the typical suffering love- interest without any quirk or edge whatsoever.

Above all, I thought the film was very much flawed on the lines of its lack of an original plot line, but it was enjoyable to watch even if it was just for Townsend and Green, who were most definitely the highlights of the film. I give the film an eight for its quirks, but I won't praise it for the plot.

Unhitched is your typical romantic comedy. Boy meets girl. Flirtation ensues. Will they get together? Of course they will because this is a romantic comedy and they always do in this type of movie. Thankfully, Unhitched has enough fun with the getting to the denouement that it entertains the viewer despite the familiarity. Seth Green is hilarious as the best friend trying to help his bud out. And Stuart Townsend is fine as the bumbling lovable loser who falls for his friend's fiancée. Luckily for Townsend the friend turns out to be a jerk and he really should be with this girl. All in all Unhitched comes across as an enjoyable if not somewhat predictable piece of film. If it weren't for the predictability, I'd have given it a higher rating since it is well acted and written. Its just that we've seen it all before.