Release Date:
07/14/2006
Writer, director, and actor Edward Burns made a big splash when his debut feature, The Brothers McMullen, took Sundance by storm in 1995. Since then he has created five similar movies that never managed to recapture the magic of the first. Now, with The Groomsmen, he has his most accomplished and entertaining work since his breakthrough. Burns remains true to the small-character-driven plots of his previous work, but his maturity as a filmmaker makes this one easier to absorb. As Paulie, Burns is getting married and is about to become a father, and in the week before the ceremony, he and his groomsmen get together for one last moment of adolescent independence and learn that maybe it’s time to finally grow up and be responsible. Here’s a male bonding movie that gets it right for a change, thanks in no small part to outstanding work from a group of terrific actors. Particularly impressive is Donal Logue as Burns' brother and a man who realizes life is passing him by. Although there are women here, including Brittany Murphy as the pregnant fiancée, this is really the guys’ show as Burn tries to chart the difficulty men have leaving their youth behind. The Groomsmen is definitely modest, low-budget filmmaking, and it feels like it, even getting awkward at times—sorta like the lives it portrays, warts and all.