Rachel Getting Married

For many critics, Rachel Getting Married was the film where Anne Hathaway finally proved her acting chops. Previous turns had either been too small (Brokeback Mountain) or the film wasn't of a high enough quality to pass fair judgement (the wonderfully silly and actually quite enjoyable Get Smart; Becoming Jane). Her performance in The Devil Wears Prada was strong, but seemingly not strong enough to make them sit up and take notice. I'm not sure what it was they were missing or waiting for, but they seemed to find it here.

Hathaway plays Kym, a recovering drug addict, who has come home from rehab for her sister Rachel's wedding. Contrary to your expectations from the title, the film is less about Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) than it is about Kym, and the backdrop of the wedding might be little more than a plot device to get the characters all into one place together. However, weddings tend to be emotional and high-stress events for all involved (sometimes even the guests!), so the setting is not inappropriate given how the plot unfolds. We learn of a tragedy, resulting from Kym's addiction, that hit the family in the past; the mum (Debra Winger) and dad (Bill Irwin) broke up sometime after this event, although remain on amicable terms.

Kym, as might be expected, is a damaged girl and this is highlighted in her petulance, selfishness and attention-seeking behaviour. At the wedding rehearsal dinner, when a number of people have given speeches in honour of the happy couple, Kym contributes her own that focuses more on her experiences as an addict in rehab. It's clear that she was unhappy that the attention wasn't on her, and that she decided to fix that. Unsurprisingly, this later provokes a row between Kym and Rachel.

Underlying this, however, is a kind and loving personality that is struggling to come to terms with her addiction, the tragedy and rehab itself. Director Jonathan Demme's capable hands shape and nurture the viewer's empathy for Kym: she doesn't want to hurt anyone, but she wants people to understand what she is going through. Just because she's out of rehab doesn't mean she's completely recovered.

Rachel Getting Married: Left to Right: Anne Hathaway as Kym, Rosemarie DeWitt as Rachel.
Photo by Bob Vergara © 2007 Sniscak Productions, INC. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics. All Rights Reserved.

Incorporating and addressing the issues that it does, Rachel Getting Married tells a very human story, reflecting all aspects of human nature both ugly and beautiful. A confrontation with her mother represents a low-point for Kym, whilst the kitchen competition between Sidney, Rachel's fiancé (Tunde Adebimpe), and her dad provides a light-hearted moment of familial warmth and very real fun. The wedding turns out to be as joyful an event as it should be, and again we see the best of being human.

No review of this film can be written without mentioning Anne Hathaway's performance. She brings great depth to Kym, playing the complex emotions excellently and rendering the character's internal conflicts as raw, difficult and painful. She strikes a good balance between the less pleasant components of Kym's personality and the kinder parts, allowing us to warm to and even identify with her Kym. Hathaway really got inside the head of her character, and as a result put in a thoroughly convincing performance.

However, it's also worth making mention of Rosemarie DeWitt's supporting role, and I firmly believe DeWitt hasn't received proper recognition for her performance: it's likely that she was simply eclipsed by Hathaway. Rachel has to weigh up her own preferences and desires in regard to her wedding and reconcile them with her affection and empathy for Kym and her situation. Hathaway and DeWitt have an excellent on-screen chemistry that makes their sororal relationship more than believable and breathes life into their shared scenes — in particular the arguments and the later more touching sequences.

The direction on the whole is good and it is shot in a very intimate, almost documentary style; indeed, some shots are seen through a hand-held camera. The cinematography is spare, utilising very long sequences without cuts, and in scenes like the rehearsal dinner this creates a sense of great intimacy for the viewer, as though they are a fly on the wall. The flip side, however, is that the pacing is sometimes a little slow leaving the viewer's attention wandering. The afore-mentioned kitchen competition, for example, is rather drawn out considering the amount of plot and character development resulting from it.

This film is well worth watching, and I would suggest it is one to be shared with friends or a partner. If you're into buying DVDs like me, I would strongly recommend this as a keeper; you're not going to watch it hundreds of times, but it's likely you'll want to see it more than once. If you're more into renting-and-returning, get this on your list, and crack open a bottle of wine to accompany it.

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