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.

---

Plot Keywords:

wedding | funeral | gay | cafe | hotel | 

---

Taglines:

He's quite engaging. She's otherwise engaged.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

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:

Four Weddings and a 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

Originally scheduled to be filmed one or two years earlier, but was held back. When it finally got the green light, PolyGram cut the original budget of eight million dollars to six million.

---

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.

---

Quotes

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

---

Crazy Credits

The list of credits is presented as "Cast (almost in order of appearance)".

---

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in Good Morning Britain: Episode dated 6 December 2018 (2018)

---

Soundtracks

But Not for Me
(1930)
Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Performed by Elton John
Produced by Steve Lindsey
Published by Warner Chappell Music Ltd.
© 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

Wonderful Movie...except for that insipid Andie MacDowell

This movie is brilliant, funny, charming, witty, touching. It has two problems, both of them related to the lead female character, Carrie (played by Andie MacDowell).

The first is that the character is not written to be at all likeable. She is engaged to a rich older man she clearly doesn't really love (I think we're supposed to infer that she's a golddigger) and cheats on him with someone she doesn't really care about either (Hugh Grant). Later we learn that she's a slut and a homewrecker (see her appearance at wedding #4--don't tell me it wasn't conniving!). What would make us want this woman to win our beloved Charlie (Hugh Grant) (who is also something of a cad, but a loveable one)?

Carrie might not have been so unpalatable if they'd found an actress who could actually ACT to play her, but instead, they hired Andie MacDowell, who may be pretty, but is as stiff and lifeless as the scenery. Maybe she thinks that's what's called for in a British movie. I wonder that the people casting movies haven't realized that Andie MacDowell simply plays the same character in every movie she's in. By the end of this film, you're incredibly frustrated. You want to adore this movie, because everything about it is so perfect, except for the fact that you hate Andie MacDowell' s character with a passion and wish that she would die so that Charlie could find happiness with a woman who can act.