Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.

Director:

Mike Newell

Writer:

Richard Curtis

Stars:

Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, James Fleet

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 24 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Grant	...	Charles - Wedding One
James Fleet	...	Tom - Wedding One
Simon Callow	...	Gareth - Wedding One
John Hannah	...	Matthew - Wedding One
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Fiona - Wedding One
David Bower	...	David - Wedding One
Charlotte Coleman	...	Scarlett - Wedding One
Andie MacDowell	...	Carrie - Wedding One (as Andie Macdowell)
Timothy Walker	...	Angus the Groom - Wedding One
Sara Crowe	...	Laura the Bride - Wedding One
Ronald Herdman	...	Vicar - Wedding One
Elspet Gray	...	Laura's Mother - Wedding One
Philip Voss	...	Laura's Father - Wedding One
Rupert Vansittart	...	George the Boor at The Boatman - Wedding One
Nicola Walker	...	Frightful Folk Duo - Wedding One

Storyline

The film follows the fortunes of Charles and his friends as they wonder if they will ever find true love and marry. Charles thinks he's found "Miss Right" in Carrie, an American. This British subtle comedy revolves around Charlie, his friends and the four weddings and one funeral which they attend.

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Plot Keywords:

wedding | funeral | 1990s | chick flick | gay relationship | 

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Taglines:

An Outrageously Funny Affair

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and for some sexuality

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English British Sign Language

Release Date:

15 April 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cuatro bodas y un funeral

Filming Locations:

Cafe Rouge, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,400,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$52,700,832

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$245,700,832

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,Channel Four Films,Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Making Of documentary, Hugh Grant claims he was paid just £15k to make the film.

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Goofs

At the second wedding, Angus and Laura, the couple married in the first wedding, are nowhere to be seen and their absence is not explained. Given that the bride at the second wedding (Lydia) was a bridesmaid at their wedding, it would be reasonable to expect to see them in attendance.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Charles: [wakes up and looks at his bedside clock] Oh... *fuck*! Fuck!

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Crazy Credits

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd is credited as "Aristocracy Co-Ordinator" for the film as a way to be paid whilst working as an extra, who were otherwise mostly unpaid.

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Alternate Versions

The filmmakers were under contract to produce a version suitable for American TV. So instead of overdubbing, EVERY scene with harsh language - no matter how complex - was re-shot and less offensive words substituted. Most noticeable are the following (among others): 1) the beginning, where "bugger" has replaced "fuck" (and does so for the duration of the film); 2) George, the reader at the first wedding, is talking to Charles about having gone to school with the groom's brother, "Bufty" (which is slang for homosexual). His theatrical "Buggered me senseless" line has been toned down to "Beat me till my bottom turned blue"; and 3) the scene during Carrie's wedding, where "fuck-a-doodle-doo" has been replaced with Charles sighing and saying, "Well, that's that, then". There is much more alternate footage used.

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Connections

Featured in Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema: The Romcom (2018)

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Soundtracks

Chapel of Love
(1964)
Written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich
Performed by Elton John
Produced by Steve Lindsey
Published by Mother Bertha Music, Inc.
By Arrangement with ABKCO Music, Inc.
And Carlin Music Corporation by arrangement with Trio Music, Inc.
© 1993 William A. Bong Ltd.
Elton John appears courtesy of Photogram Ltd. and MCA Records, Inc.
Recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios, Los Angeles and Metropolis, London

User Reviews

A note to the anti-Andie brigade

I'm blind to the alleged charm of Andie MacDowell myself. That's why I think that casting her in this film was a stroke of genius, for so far as my senses tell me she perfectly fits the character she plays: a dull beauty who casts a spell over one out of every twenty men she meets, leaving the remaining nineteen cold and completely baffled. Charlie (Hugh Grant) is surrounded by MUCH more desirable female friends - even Duckface has something going for her - but instead of so much as noticing them he falls head over heels for an unattainable woman who is, on top of everything else, boring. Would have been as good as it is if Charlie's passion had made SENSE? Of course not.

Anyway, everyone I know with a low opinion of this film begins the case for the prosecution with an attack on Andie MacDowell. Is there anything else to dislike? I can't see it myself. This is one of the world's few perfect comedies, devoid of longeurs - perhaps the funeral didn't have quite the desired effect - with true comedy and a nice selection of characters. One has no difficulty keeping the dozen or so members of the main set mentally separate. How many romantic comedies can you say THAT about?