So Why's a Nice Boy like Dermot Mulroney
Getting Such Bad Reviews for
My Best Friend's Wedding?


Had a thought recently about the (pretty much inaccurate) bad reviews Derm is getting for BFW.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Wait just a minute here...YOU'RE the one who's down on him for being in BFW in the first place, selling out the indie thing."

Yeah yeah yeah.

Anyway, I've been trying to figure out why so many critics are characterizing a pretty incredible projection of warmth and decency (the kind that gets us male-watchers right between the legs) as "drippy" and "devoid of chemistry" and "frat-boy annoying" and "muted" and so on.

(Especially since I don't actually think Derm is all that warm or DECENT [all caps intended] in real life. Decent, maybe, but not Michael O'Neal DECENT)

(And before you cry "sour grapes," wander over to the tidbit page. No one can criticize Derm better than I can...when he has it coming)

I've developed a theory.

There is one, big, huge, screaming thing to hate about BFW (besides its status as Hollywood vehicle which makes it a perpetuator of a truly destructive system but that's another essay).

This is a blatant attempt by many parties to force the public to re-embrace Julia Roberts.

Think of all those "off-camera" candid shots of her on the set (you see them in those "making of" specials and entertainment news show reports). Am I the only one who found the bubbly bubbly pretty pretty queen of comedy stuff a bit...forced? (Especially the ball park and wedding brunch location stuff). It smacked of, well...fear. "Get this bubbly stuff right and SELL IT or you're finished!"

(Further potential proof that she was running scared on this project - hands down the most powerful moment of hers was that vulnerable smoking-in-the-hallway shot...just incredible)

I suspect I'm not the only one who sniffed it out (the forcing, not the smoking!). And let's face it...the movie-going audience, be it critics or the public, gets pissed when its intelligence is insulted by insinuations that we can be forced to accept what Hollywood wants us to.

So, now you've got a passel of critics who, though they may not even realize it, are a bit miffed that this film is trying to force them to embrace JR again. So they're mad, they want to lash out, and they're not even sure why.

Who ya gonna lash out at?

1. America's sweetheart who's running scared and trying so hard?

I don't think so.

2. The other chick, the cute blonde one?

I don't think so.

3. The homosexual?

In this age of political correctness? I don't think so.

4. Okay, how about the white male heterosexual product of a privileged upbringing?

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING!!!!

Just a theory.
------------------

I'm Rebecca Webb and I can be reached via e-mail at:
webbrl@caa.morris.umn.edu


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