Confetti

'Confetti' is a funny and charming British mockumentary, but it sure as hell isn't on-par with mockumentaries like 'Spinal Tap' and 'Best in Show'. 'Confetti' is about a fashion bridal magazine called 'Confetti'. The two executives of the magazine (Jimmy Carr and Felicity Montagu) form a contest involving three different couples seeing who can put on the most original wedding. They choose Matt and Sam (Martin Freeman and Jessica Hynes) two tone-deaf theater enthusiasts whose theme is Broadway Musicals ; Josef and Isabelle (Stephen Mangan and Meredith MacNeill) two wannabe pro-tennis players whose theme is, no big surprise, tennis ; and Michael and Joanna (Robert Webb and Olivia Colman), two nudists whose theme is a "naturist" wedding. With the help of two flamboyantly gay wedding planners (Vincent Franklin and Jason Watkins), the three couples set on a trek to plan their weddings and perhaps win the Confetti magazine most original wedding contest.

'Confetti' is an interesting concept, but disappointing in that they could have done so much more with it. The beginning is very funny and the ending sequence is flat-out hilarious, but there are so many in-between moments in 'Confetti' that aren't very funny and drag out. The actors are all very talented and funny, especially Vincent Franklin and Jason Watkins who are constant scene-stealers as the bitchy/gay wedding planners. Some of the time, I was confused in what I was watching -- a comedy or a drama. In some instances it becomes too sentimental to be funny, which is usually not a good route to take when making a mockumentary. Satire is a very hard thing to accomplish well in a movie, and 'Confetti' hits and misses, but luckily for the viewers it hits more than it misses. Grade: B-

Three young couples vie to win a magazine contest by holding their 'themed' weddings in public, with the winners being awarded a first prize of a brand new home. Step forward the three couples: nudists Michael and Joanna; tennis-mad Josef and Meredith, and Hollywood musical fans Matt and Samantha.

The fun comes for us as as viewers as we join the fly-on the wall documentary team that follows all three couples as the wedding organisers and their respective families try to get the weddings together in time for the contest.

This is a showcase of modern British comedy talent. Jimmy Carr, Felicity Montagu, Stephen Mangan, Martin Freeman, Jessica Stevenson and Alison Steadman all do their bit. But the real stars are the lesser known Vincent Franklin and Jason Watkins as the camp wedding organisers who won't let anything get in the way of the couples' dream day.

This is an enjoyable little film, with a nice basic idea, littered with lots of good performances. It is 'smile' humour, rather than 'laugh out loud' stuff. But the smiles are here a-plenty. It is also surprisingly moving at times as well, and refreshingly free of cynicism. If at times you doubt the sincerity of some of those involved, the ending leaves you on a high.

'Confetti' is not brilliant or ground-breaking, but it will make you smile. And that's not such a bad recommendation, is it?

The wedding magazine Confetti is holding a competition for the best wedding. They have selected three couples for the finals. Sam (Jessica Stevenson) and Matt (Martin Freeman) are a happy couple who wants to hold a musical wedding despite not being good singers. Josef (Stephen Mangan) and Isabelle (Meredith MacNeill) are tennis players. He's a former pro and she's a ultra-competitive player. Joanna (Olivia Colman) and Michael (Robert Webb) are naturists. They're naked. Gregory (Jason Watkins) and his partner Archie (Vincent Franklin) are the wedding planners for all three couples.

I like all four couples and that keeps the movie steady. It's definitely following the path of Christopher Guest mockumentaries. I actually like the journey of Josef and Isabelle the most. It is a little sad to read that Colman and Webb hated the amount of nudity. Otherwise, I like that couple. I like all the couples and the actors. It's not big laughs but there is plenty of quirkiness.

Delightful British mockumentary may not have all the sustainability and directional thrust of a vintage Guest film but still offers a refreshing and original venture into the popular up-and-coming genre of fake non-fiction. Taking place over several weeks, Confetti comically documents three very unique couples and their eccentric quests to win over a bridal magazine's "most original wedding" contest. With the help of an offbeat pace, these couples are transported to the surreal world of grossly irrelevant party planning, as imagined by two wacky staff party lovers.

It sounds like mildly stimulating entertainment, and for the most part it does play out as an elegant time waster, but this inventive mock-up must not be overlooked when viewing all of the subtle, quirky direction that creator Debbie Isitt employs to give this film some remarkable shades of sincerity against the absurd contest parody. Each of these fabulously improvised couples help make the wacky farce as eclectic as possible, and while everyone embraces their roles, some viewers will feel loud silences being awkwardly filled in by the hard working cast. At times, there is simply too much space for the improv comedy to truly take hold with this cast, but many subtle hints at brilliance lie beneath the half-great attempt, justifying a viewing to any open minded, mature yet irreverent adults.

I really wanted to enjoy this one. I great cast made up from shows I love, an interesting premise - what could go wrong? Well for starters, a lack of a decent plot. There's a flimsy storyline about three couples getting their (insane) dream weddings, and the preparations that lead to the wedding, but this appears to be nothing more than a narrative thread so they could decide what order to have the jokes in. Secondly, all the couples only have one joke. Admittedly, for two out of the three couples it is a funny joke, but it wears thin towards the end and could easily have been trimmed to make the film lighter. However, one couple (Josef and Isabelle) are just relentlessly annoying, their story falling flat. Finally, all the actors appear to be playing their sitcom roles. Martin Freeman plays his character as at least a relative of Tim from the office. Steven Mangan is Guy from Green Wing. The guys from Peep show are their characters, Jimmy Carr is Jimmy Carr. Only Jessica Stevenson is allowed to make a new character from herself, nowhere near to Daisy from Spaced (which, would've made an interesting addition to the film). But whilst I love Green Wing, The Office and Peep Show, it doesn't mean I want to see these characters merely transferred to film. However, despite these criticisms, the film is funny, with scenes that had me laughing loudly in the cinema. Unfortunately, it's nowhere near as good as it could've been with more work, more jokes and original characters.