License to Wed (2007)

A reverend puts an engaged couple through a grueling marriage preparation course to see if they are meant to be married in his church.

Director:

Ken Kwapis

Writers:

Kim Barker (screenplay), Tim Rasmussen (screenplay),

Stars:

Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Reverend Frank
Mandy Moore	...	Sadie Jones
John Krasinski	...	Ben Murphy
Eric Christian Olsen	...	Carlisle
Christine Taylor	...	Lindsey Jones
Josh Flitter	...	Choir Boy
DeRay Davis	...	Joel
Peter Strauss	...	Mr. Jones
Grace Zabriskie	...	Grandma Jones
Roxanne Hart	...	Mrs. Jones
Mindy Kaling	...	Shelly
Angela Kinsey	...	Judith the Jewelry Clerk
Rachael Harris	...	Janine
Brian Baumgartner	...	Jim
Jess Rosenthal	...	Jewelry Clerk

Storyline

Sadie and Ben are in love, and although Ben suggests getting married in the Caribbean, Sadie has her heart set on a wedding at the family church, St. Augustine's. Ben says sure, and they meet with the pastor, Rev. Frank. The only date open for two years is three weeks away, and Frank insists the kids go through his marriage prep course. They're to write their own vows; he also demands chastity, bugs their apartment, initiates arguments, has them care for robot twins, creates friction between Ben and her family, and raises doubts in Sadie. Desperate, Ben looks for dirt on Frank. Can he undermine Frank's authority and keep Sadie's heart?

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Plot Keywords:

church | marriage proposal | box office flop | priest | premarital counseling | 

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Taglines:

First came love... then came Reverend Frank.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros [France] Warner Bros [United States]

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 July 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Licencia para casarse

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£268,016 (UK) (10 August 2007)

Gross:

$43,792,641 (USA) (28 September 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, Robert Simonds Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

WILHELM SCREAM: During the marriage road test, an old man on a scooter crashes into a car.

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Goofs

When Reverend Frank is playing the Ten Commandments quiz game with the children, he flips the "coveting" card to its answer-revealing side on the board behind him; but in the closeup afterwords of his face, it's flipped back to its answer-hiding side. In the next shot, it's back to its correct, answer-revealing position.

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Quotes

Sadie Jones: I wanna pass the course, don't you?
Ben Murphy: Yes, I wanna pass the course!
Sadie Jones: So...
Ben Murphy: So, I also wanna play "Pickle me, tickle me" with my really hot fiancé.

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Connections

Featured in HBO First Look: 'License to Wed': Behind the Vows (2007)

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Soundtracks

"If U Stay Ready"
Written by Dajuan Walker, Robert Bacon Jr., David Blake, George Archie Jr., and Wilbert Milo
Performed by Suga Free
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Not so much

This movie was a bit of a bore. I walked in rather neutral with my expectations, and after the first 10 minutes realized that this ball of cheese was not for me. I sat through it all, for the sake of the company I was with.

Mandy Moore and John Krasinski are cute, but very flat characters. There is little or no character development in this film. Robin Williams as Reverend Frank tries to save the show with his humorous antics, but was unfortunately cliché in his attempts. The little boy, Josh Flitter, does an excellent job as the annoyingly forthright "minister in training", as do the other children playing minor roles, but the overall attempt was bland.

The movie neither humorously avoids morals, nor does it end with moral enlightenment. The "lesson" in the end is weak and predictable.

If you're looking for something heartwarming, inspiring, or thought-provoking, turn elsewhere. If you'd like a few cheap laughs with a weak storyline, this could be your film.

I rate it a 2 out of 10.