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A week before he marries Sue (Brittany Murphy), Paulie (Edward Burns) is in jitters. The prospect of fatherhood and responsibility is simply overwhelming. He and his buddies decide to have their own version of a bachelor party by bonding together, reliving old times and dealing with their respective demons and personal issues. As Paulie has the typical cold-feet husband-to- be problem, his older brother Jimbo (Donal Logue) deals with his frustrations with his marriage, cousin Mike (Jay Mohr) figures out how to win back his girlfriend so he can start his own family, friend Des (Matthew Lillard) brags about his fulfillment as a father and is obsessed with reviving the high school rock band and T.C. (John Leguizamo) has a big secret about his gender identity.
The beauty of the movie lies in its charming simplicity and distinguishable maturity of the issues the characters are made to tackle. The dilemmas explored are real and believable for a person of their given age, such that audience is able to relate and sympathize with them. The characters are well developed, the script witty and memorable, the camerawork is scenic, the scoring is appropriate and the performances are understated. This is a feel-good and enjoyable movie that uses simple and straightforward storytelling to get the message across. One actually grows attached to the characters, gives a relieved sigh that they have cleared the misunderstandings of the past and eventually roots for their success in the future as the movie ends. Writer-director Edward Burns masterfully explores the tender male emotions and presents insightful understandings to the usual macho bonding.
The Groomsmen brings out the difficulties of the thirty-and-above men in letting go of their attachment to the past and facing the responsibilities of adulthood. As they get drunk, get into a brawl, play and do all the macho stuff bachelors usually do, we realize that no one has really grown up. The primal rollercoaster of emotions a wedding usually brings forth are accentuated and we realize the value of friendship and the virtue of maturity as each character faces his inner conflicts and works for its resolution. The film goes beyond being sitcom material by sticking to a certain truth about men. This is an intimate movie with amusing and admirable moments with its characters, and is worth seeing based on the strengths of the actors. However, certain situations and themes discussed may not be suitable for the younger viewers.
(Date Reviewed: 30 March 2007)
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