'WEDDING' BELL BLUES, BIG TIME.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic You'd think the average wedding is fraught with enough tension and odd behavior that you wouldn't need to import a bunch of anarchic wiseacres to make things worse. But Ashton Kutcher, who created "Punk'd" and serves as one of the executive producers of "The Real Wedding Crashers," wants you to know that you're wrong. "Real Wedding Crashers" features a group of improv comics who, with the couple's blessings, go about humiliating and bewildering be·wil·der tr.v. be·wil·dered, be·wil·der·ing, be·wil·ders 1. To confuse or befuddle, especially with numerous conflicting situations, objects, or statements. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. guests and those in the wedding party, all to create an event, narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. Gareth Reynolds explains, that "the couple will never forget and their guests will remember forever." Um -- isn't that the same thing? In tonight's episode, the funniest moments come when the pastor presiding over the ceremony (Steve Byrne) repeatedly forgets the bride's name and has a coughing fit during the ceremony, which he also interrupts to take a cell-phone call. But there are other pranks, as well. One crasher (Ben Gleib) convinces a member of the wedding party that he has ruined the bridal gown. Another (Catherine Reitman), acting as the wedding planner, takes another family friend to the event's venue, which is ostensibly tented tent·ed adj. 1. Covered with tents. 2. Sheltered in tents. 3. Resembling a tent. to fumigate fu·mi·gate v. To subject to smoke or fumes, usually in order to exterminate pests or disinfect. fu all manner of vermin. She coaxes him to convince the lazy building manager (crasher Desi desi Indian English Adjective indigenous or local Noun informal a person considered to be of South Asian origin [Hindi] Lydic) to delay the tenting until after the ceremony, never mind the potentially disastrous results. And the best man almost witnesses the groom getting arrested for possession of Cuban cigars. Some of these sequences begin amusingly enough but are invariably in·var·i·a·ble adj. Not changing or subject to change; constant. in·var  i·a·bil belabored. And scenes are shown repeatedly, adding to the feeling that
the show is more padded than necessary. And the narration from Reynolds
-- who also plays an inept caterer at the reception -- is less clever
than condescending.
Still, in the end (at least, in tonight's installment), all is forgiven -- those who were punked enjoy the laugh at their expense, and there are hugs all around. "Real Wedding Crashers" seems to beg for a sequel: "Crashing the Wedding Crashers," in which a second group of improv aces attempt to subvert the first group's subversions, and keep the wedding a solemn celebration of the marrying couple's love. Imagine the chaos that could result from that. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke@dailynews.com THE REAL WEDDING CRASHERS - Two and one half stars What: Prank reality series about improv comics disrupting couples' weddings - with the couples' permission. Where: NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. (Channel 4). When: 10 tonight. In a nutshell: Some funny business, but played out too protractedly pro·tract tr.v. pro·tract·ed, pro·tract·ing, pro·tracts 1. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong: disputants who needlessly protracted the negotiations. 2. . CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Jonnie and Derek Duncan are in on the joke in NBC's "The Real Wedding Crashers." NBC |
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