The Notable Films of 2011: Part Three

Ceremony
Opens: April 8th 2011
Cast: Michael Angarano, Uma Thurman, Lee Pace, Jake M. Johnson, Rebecca Mader
Director: Max Winkler

Summary: A young man falls hard for an older woman about to be married. The infatuation prompts him to take along his unwitting friend to a beach town in an effort to break up the wedding. Upon arriving, the young men quickly realize just how out of place they are among the stately British groom-to-be and his guests.

Analysis: Another film which premiered in Toronto this year, this indie coming-of-age laugher from first-time filmmaker Max Winkler had solid reviews and was quickly picked up by Magnolia Pictures for distribution. Angarano’s performance as the fast-talking guy infatuated with an older woman is praised, as is Winkler’s assured direction and early pacing. The lack of a cohesive story, underdeveloped supporting characters and little chemistry between the leads however were singled out – three things crucial to any rom-com.

Certainly it’s difficult to sympathise with an arrogant and delusional young man attempting to win the love of the object of his affection by disrupting her wedding. “Pushing Daisies” actor Lee Pace stars as the groom, a documentary filmmaker said to behave like a blend of Jacques Costeau and Steve Irwin, while Jake M. Johnson plays an overly earnest sibling pulled along for the trip. Both are caricatures through and through, yet certainly sound more interesting than anything else going on in the film. What is nice to see though is Thurman getting to play a more mature and classier romantic female lead than she has had the opportunity to play in recent years.

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