Kym (Anne Hathaway) has been in a rehab facility for 9 months when she returns to her family home for the wedding of her sister (Rosemarie Dewitt). Hathaway casts aside her princess persona as Kym returns to old pain-filled haunts to be under the scrutiny of those who care about her but really don’t know what she’s going through. She is expected to happily celebrate her sister’s wedding but while people are gathering for festivities, she has to report for urine tests and Twelve Step meetings. Of course Kym is not the only one carrying around painful memories and it is not long before the family dynamics ignite smouldering tensions and past traumas threaten to overshadow the planned jovialities.
A strong advocate for human rights, Jonathan Demme has won awards for his documentaries. He has also directed over 27 feature films including The Manchurian Candidate, The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia and music videos for a host of famous performers.
This time around, he has taken an unconventional approach and loosely staged scenes to play out while live music is playing. With the exception of the principal actors the participants in the film are friends of the director, so it is a very eclectic mix celebrating the company of family and friends. Famous actors mingle with movie novices, musicians and dancers as the documentary-style cameras capture the story. The hand-held camerawork makes sure that the audience becomes part of the family and cares for their happiness.
Unfortunately, being part of the family means that you have to partake in all the excesses that make up American weddings and put up with self-centred people as they drivel on about their petty lives. Hathaway’s performance makes the film as her character’s struggle for sobriety seems to be the only worthwhile thing happening.
