Den store dag

It was interesting, confusing, certain levels of culture shock, otherwise a lovely romcom. We're still a bit flabbergasted. What just happened? Is this typically Danish? Do we need to worry?

Love always finds a way doesn't it? It doesn't always? Often enough though, right? Well while real life may not work like it does in the movies, we do watch movies to escape from real life. Whatever that entails. Be it love, action or whatever else.

In this case we have a romcom - something you either like or not. That being said, this being a danish movie, it is a bit (or a lot, depending on your sensibility) different than your usual rom com. Still there are enough cliches and things you are going to be able to detect and see before they happen. Decent movie - funny enough.

Den Store Dag ("The Big Day") is the story of Anne and her two close friends, Jesper and Lars, who run a small, struggling, wedding planning business which shares the film's name. Desperate for clients, all their dreams appear to come true when a celebrity couple enter their lives...

While the film in itself is inoffensive and watchable, you can't help but notice the similarities to Hollywood affairs such as "The Wedding Planner" and "My Best Friends Wedding", and there is nothing particularly new to distinguish it between those two efforts. Louise Mieritz plays her role as a flustered, slightly dizzy, wedding planner well, and the supporting cast are equally as competent, if a little exaggerated - surely no-one could be as annoying as Steen! Bad points: the totally non-subtle, "in-your-face" use of product placement. Namedropping a famous furniture store, Denmark's largest bank, a Danish tabloid, and a major TV programme (which plays an integral part in the storyline) is one thing, but (near the start of the film) try watching the way Anne drinks out of the fizzy drinks bottle - it's a billboard poster in itself! That said, the soundtrack is good, and if you're looking for a film to watch on a wet Tuesday evening with your girlfriend, you could do a whole lot worse...

You need to see the entire movie to appreciate my very high rating (ie, 9). The storyline is somewhat simple, at times predictable and still very elegant in its message. The closing scene is superb.