Often overshadowed by the more popular Notting Hill, I think Four Weddings and a Funeral is a criminally underrated rom-com. Whether you and your partner are looking for a romantic film this Valentine’s or you and your Galantines simply want to gaze at a beautiful young Hugh Grant then Four Weddings and a Funeral is the film for you. Written by Richard Curtis and directed by Mike Newell, the film centres around the adorably awkward Charles (Hugh Grant) as he and his lovable band of friends attend numerous (four, to be specific) weddings where he repeatedly encounters the charming and beautiful American, Carrie (Andie MacDowell) whom he falls in love with.
Something I really love about Four Weddings is the fact that whilst Charles and Carrie’s relationship is the primary concern of the film, it is not the only element of it. All of Charles’ friends have their own stories, their own jokes and there is so much more to the film than the central romance. Charles’ flatmate Scarlet (Charlotte Coleman) for example, is utterly hilarious whilst Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas) is wonderfully snobby and melancholy. The relationship between Gareth (Simon Callow) and Matthew (John Hannah) is also deeply moving and amazingly progressive for a film that came out in 1994. Whilst not discussed at length, it is made clear that the two men are in a relationship and it is presented as loving, caring and just as valid as any of the other relationships which is lovely to see. As well as Charles’ romance we also follow the utterly adorable blooming of his deaf brother, David’s (David Bower) relationship with Serena (Robin McAffrey) who learns sign language to communicate with him.
Four Weddings is also properly hilarious. A lot of rom-coms are perfectly entertaining and light-hearted but very few are as laugh-out-loud funny as Four Weddings is. Hugh Grant is fantastically awkward and the chaotic double act of Charles and Scarlet is truly brilliant – look no further than the opening scene! Rowan Atkinson also makes a brief but memorable appearance as an incompetent vicar which rivals even his iconic Love Actually cameo. In addition to the comedy, the film has all the hallmarks of a great romance film; a great meet-cute, a few over the top declarations of love, a love triangle and a fantastic if slightly ridiculous ending involving a lot of rain.
As the title suggests, Four Weddings is not all romance and joy, there is the ever-present threat of the funeral. It would be so easy for a funeral to completely de-rail the lovely, frothiness of a rom-com but Four Weddings perfectly walks this line; the funeral scene is intensely moving and heart-breaking but it does not ruin the film by any means and I feel it actually adds something. Four Weddings is more than a silly comedy about middle class people in their 30s going to too many weddings, it is about people and all the different ways they love each other.
Four Weddings and a Funeral is one of my favourite rom-coms of all time. As it is written by Richard Curtis it has the witty British comedy of Love Actually and Notting Hill coupled with a fantastic cast of hilarious and iconic 90s actors. Genuinely hilarious whilst also moving and poignant, Four Weddings has pretty much everything you could want for a chill night in this Valentine’s Day.
4/5
