Four Weddings and a Funeral 1994

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: Although the film is basically a light romantic comedy, it couldn't be more psychologically astute in its portrait of a man who defines himself by his bachelorhood, which empowers him to get past his fear of commitment. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Deftly written by Richard Curtis and directed by the versatile Mike Newell, Four Weddings is as good as its word, breezily following a small circle of friends through every one of the events the title promises. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Hugh Grant's body English captures every nuance of his character's confusion precisely and hilariously. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Four Weddings and a Funeral is one of those rare films that have you smiling from the get-go, and keep you that way -- with a few well-earned poignant interludes (including, of all things, a reading of W.H. Auden) -- right to the end. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: If ever a film resembled a wedding cake it is Four Weddings and a Funeral, a multi-tiered confection with a romantic spirit and an enchantingly pretty veneer. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: A grocery store would sell this on its generic shelf: the brittle upper-class British cleverness is strictly standard issue. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: The infectious charm and sunny goodwill of Four Weddings and a Funeral can so immediately buoy a soul ravaged by winter weather and winter movies. Read more

Michael Sragow, New Yorker: The setup is too arch to support the movie's detour into poignance, though John Hannah does give a moving reading of W. H. Auden's "Funeral Blues." Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The simplest and most honest expression of praise that I can offer Mike Newell's latest movie is that it represents two hours of solid movie magic. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Delightful and sly. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: There are movies so breezy, even flimsy, that you can enjoy them as genial providers of an evening's entertainment yet forget all about them by the time you leave the multiplex. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: A British comedy that's classy and commercial -- and, most important, very, very funny. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Truly beguiling romantic comedy is one of the hardest things for a modern film to pull off, but a winning British team has done it in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: The players, who include Simon Callow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rowan Atkinson and Sophie Thompson, exude comedic brightness as they go about their gossipy, farcical, self-deprecating, sorry-about-that-old-chap, just-being-English business. Read more

Megan Rosenfeld, Washington Post: Some of the funniest scenes bounce off the nightmares of every bride and groom before the wedding. Read more