Movie Review: The People We Hate at the Wedding

The People We Hate at the Wedding is a comedy that hits the mark and engages the audience throughout the last scene.  The movie depicts a loving but somewhat disconnected family who come together to celebrate the wedding of Eloise, brilliantly played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson.  The relationship between Eloise and her two half siblings, Alice and Paul, played with heart and authenticity by Kristen Bell and Ben Platt, is somewhat tattered by life events missed and expectations misunderstood.  Despite the disappointments in the past, they all love each other, but struggle to stay relevant in each other’s lives. 

The script was crisp and funny.  This movie gave me more laughs than any other that I’d seen in years.  The highlight for me was Allison Janey’s performance.  She plays a mother who fiercely loves her children, to frequent comic effect.  This was a stellar but rare role where a fifty-something woman is seen and heard whenever she walks into a room.  Allison Janney was a stellar casting decision to animate a post-menopausal woman who is still highly relevant in the world.

Go see this movie.  You will not leave the theater disappointed.

And FYI- I’m only posting about movies I really love or really don’t love.  I hope to steer you toward good entertainment because a night at the movies is a terrible thing to waste.