Name: Shotgun Wedding
Director: Jason Moore
Released: 2023-01-28T16:33:59

Shotgun Wedding is an action rom-com that focuses on a couple, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel), on their hapless wedding day. As they argue before the ceremony and reconsider the decision, the event is hijacked by pirates. The film is now streaming on Prime Video.

Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers

Story

Tom, Darcy, and their families gather for a destination wedding on a private island in the Philippines. However, it is not the most pleasant of affairs.

Tom’s parents, Carol (Jennifer Coolidge) and Larry Fowler (Steve Coulter) have an awkward moment with Darcy’s divorced folks, mom Renata (Sônia Braga), and dad Robert (Cheech Marin).

Meanwhile, Robert’s new girlfriend Harriet (D’Arcy Carden), annoys Renata, and things get worse when he also invites Darcy’s ex, Sean (Lenny Kravitz), to the wedding.

The next day, preparations are in full swing and Darcy starts feeling anxious. She never wanted a lavish wedding and wanted to elope, but she agreed to have one because of Tom. The two meet up before the ceremony and get into an argument, with Tom also getting cold feet.

Unfortunately, the property is infiltrated by dangerous pirates, and a hostage situation arises. Now, the couple must put their differences aside and save their loved ones.

Performances

Lopez and Duhamel are the perfect leads for this film. Their chemistry is outstanding, and their respective performances elevate the substandard narrative.

Rising above the talented ensemble in Shotgun Wedding is the stellar and absolutely lovable Jennifer Coolidge. Her portrayal of Carol is unfiltered, unapologetic, loud, and full of surprises. She is probably the best part of the film.

The rest of the cast doesn’t have much to do. Lenny Kravitz plays Sean and is quite weak as the antagonist. The script really doesn’t allow for any of the actors to showcase much of their acting chops.

Positives

Shotgun Wedding intends to help you escape from reality for 100 minutes and delivers on that promise. The plot is pacy and doesn’t allow many moments of waning attention.

The film features a slightly older couple in the lead which is a fresh take on the rom-com trope. Showcasing a couple’s constantly evolving ideas of companionship and marriage as they deal with disaster is a nice touch.

Furthermore, creating a thrilling action narrative within it is a smart decision to attract versatile audience groups.

The characters, even though not well fleshed out, are mildly interesting. The picturesque landscapes of the Dominican Republic posing as a Filipino island add to the beauty of the film.

Negatives

The film’s execution is subpar. The plot’s constant attempts at being funny do not help as the comedy feels forced. The action is quite generic and the Sean plot twist has no buildup to it whatsoever.

The pirates are wooden and have no individual identity. Having their faces covered at all times makes them feel like silly videogame henchmen who keep dying in stupid situations. Never at any point do you feel that the wedding party is in any actual danger.

Verdict

Shotgun Wedding is a one-time watch at best. Despite Lopez, Duhamel, and Coolidge, the film suffers from bad writing, mediocre execution, and flat comedy. However, you may enjoy it if you leave your brain on stand by.