License to Wed

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License to Wed

Promotional movie poster
Directed by Ken Kwapis
Produced by Mike Medavoy
Robert Simonds
Written by Kim Barker
Tim Rasmussen
Vince Di Meglio
Wayne Lloyd
Starring Robin Williams
Mandy Moore
John Krasinski
Eric Christian Olsen
DeRay Davis
Music by Christophe Beck
Cinematography John Bailey
Editing by Kathryn Himoff
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) July 3, 2007

UK August 28, 2007

Running time 1 hr. 40 min.
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
Budget $35,000,000
Gross revenue $71,128,322 (Worldwide)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

License to Wed (spelled Licence to Wed outside the United States) is a 2007 comedy film starring Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, and John Krasinski and directed by Ken Kwapis. The film was released in theaters on July 3, 2007.

Tagline:First came love...then came Reverend Frank

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[edit] Plot

Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) has always longed to marry the man of her dreams in her family church. Though she has found her lifetime companion in Ben Murphy (John Krasinski), Sadie is distressed to learn that St. Augustine's has only one wedding slot available over the next two years, though after re-checking their planning book, they find that the wedding can be held in three weeks. While Sadie and Ben do qualify for the slot, the church's eccentric minister, Reverend Frank (Robin Williams), will not wed the couple until they agree to attend his prenuptial course (shortened, due to the new date, from three months to three weeks). Now as their wedding date draws near, Sadie and Ben must attend every one of Reverend Frank's unusual classes and complete a series of homework assignments designed specifically to irritate one another — in order to get past puppy love and ensure that their union will have a sound foundation. To Ben's dismay, Frank does not allow pre-marital sex. On behalf of Frank, his young assistant breaks into the couple's house and bugs it. Thus, Frank and his assistant can listen to all conversations, though Frank doesn't let his assistant listen to the adult parts. Ben discovers the microphone/transmitter but does not tell Sadie, for fear she will accuse him of lying and planting the bug himself. In one part of the course, the couple has to care for twin "creepy robot" babies. They get on Ben's last nerve and he destroys one, to the horror of bystanders in a department store. Shortly before the wedding, Sadie changes her mind, among other things because Ben has not prepared marriage vows as Frank instructed them to do. Sadie goes on vacation to their honeymoon destination. Ben and Frank travel there too, they reconcile, and Frank marries them there.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Critical reception and box-office grosses

Critical reaction to the film was mostly negative. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an 8% rating and a critical consensus of "broad and formulaic".[3] Metacritic.com rated it a 3.6 out of 10. Metacritic cited 25 Generally negative reviews based on 30 reviews for its rating.[4] It was reviewed in Variety as "an astonishingly flat romantic comedy, filled with perplexing choices." Numerous reviewers, including Brian Lowry of Variety and MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Philosopher[5] described Williams' character as "creepy" and more worthy of a horror-film villain than a comic lead.

As of November 11, 2007, it has grossed $43.8 million domestically and $69.3 million worldwide,[6] both career highs for Mandy Moore as a lead actress, and still a box office success after a $35 million reported budget.

[edit] Production

Filming took place partially at First Congregational Church in Long Beach, California, as well as other locations around Long Beach.

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[edit] External links