Shut Up and Sing

Watchable, but OK to watch once and forget about. While the acting was decent, the premise was just not believable or worth caring about. Would you really fly across the country to attend/perform at the wedding of a man you loathe? The stock 'jerky right wing guy' character's "life-changing event" was so out of left field and then seemingly an afterthought :10 later. I can't figure out to whom this story was supposed to appeal. Too man-centric to appeal to women, too touchy-feeley whiny to appeal to most men. My only guess is "married closeted gay men," a very small demographic, which could go towards explaining the lack of commercial success. Molly Shannon was fun, the cast were decent eye candy, and the singing, though presumably overdubbed, was excellent. Fellas, watch it w/ your female significant-other to appease her after 3 or 4 nights of heavy doses of sports on the tube.

I had the opportunity to go to the Gen Art film fest this year, and must say this movie was my favorite. It is like the feel good-movie of year. I love how the movie makes me laugh, while really plucking on my heart strings at the same time. Unlike many recent films, this movie was sincere and did not rely on special effects or political plot lines to keep your attention. My friends and I could not get those modern acappella covers out of our heads. Whether it was John Mayer or Ben Folds or Phil Collins or Frank Sinatra, this movie features songs for every taste. The movie really leaves you with a smile on your face, and for the first time in awhile you are actually entertained. Try to see it and look forward to the soundtrack.

Quasi-musical that will largely appeal to white, affluent, male New Yorkers. Several old college buddies who used to sing a capella reunite for a pal's wedding in the Hamptons (which right there tells you something about the target audience). Some time has passed since they last saw each other. Some have matured and changed, some have not. The cast is mostly appealing, if way too thin and good-looking (so much so that you might think you're watching a reunion of a group of gay friends). The musical interludes are the best parts of the film, by far. Some of the dialog (including a "seize-the-moment" speech by one of the way-too-thin and good-looking wives) and situations (finding a hooker for a divorced buddy) are cringe-inducing. Hey, but this is a low-budget indie, after all. The biggest name in the cast is ex-SNL member Molly Shannon, who plays a boisterous, occasionally crude wife whose schlemiel of a husband couldn't be any more different. Some of you may recognize Mark Feuerstein, who starred in a TV show called ROYAL PAINS and is presently appearing in a theatrical release, KNUCKLHEAD. Except for Shannon, the cast looks like it was put together from Broadway plays and TV soap operas. No fatties or uglies allowed, thank you very much. Oh, for the hetero guys who catch this, keep an eye out for Elsa the 23-year-old Swedish nanny. Also way too thin, but she does love sex.

Bruce Leddy tried his best giving the budget to make 'Shut Up And Sing' aka 'The Wedding Weekend'.

The problem lies in the plot, Some moments are interesting, but usually bland.

A group of guys who sang together in a college a Capella group reunite 15 years later to perform at a friend's wedding and discover how their lives have progressed -- and in some cases regressed -- since their college heyday, an idea that seems dated and the lack of face-value, disappoints all the way.

Acting wise: Molly Shannon is the only actor who does her part well, while all the others try hard, though some manage.

on the whole 'Shut Up And Sing' isn't what you expect.

Rips off so many other, better movies, it's hard to know where to begin. But I guess "Return of the Secaucus 7" is as good a place as any. And did they REALLY think they could steal the famous Girl On The Ferry monologue from "Citizen Kane", and think no one would notice? There are comedic rants that just fall flat, such as a Seinfeld-influenced "what's up with those 4-way stops?" bit, that's yelled at full volume, and lacks any actual humor. A grown man who can't negotiate an intersection? Absurd. But not in a funny way.

The rest is just tedious, not-actually-witty witty repartee.

Avoid this. See "Secaucus 7". Or "Citizen Kane". Or pretty much anything else.