The Wedding Planner film review

certificate_PG

THE WEDDING PLANNER

Jennifer Lopez may be one of the most beautiful women in the world and her music may top countless charts, but the girl can't act for toffee. Her comic timing is so late, she ruins every single gag in Adam Shankman's old-fashioned romantic comedy - not that there are that many jokes to begin with.

San Francisco wedding planner Mary Fiore (Lopez) is a wiz at organising other people's nuptials but has never had much luck in love herself. Following a near-fatal collision with a runaway garbage truck, Mary meets handsome pediatrician Steve Edison (McConaughey) and is instantly swept off her feet.

They spend a magical night together beneath the stars - watching an old movie and sharing a packet of peanut M&Ms - and everything seems perfect. Little does Mary know that Steve is betrothed to her latest client, superwealthy internet tycoon Fran Donolly (Wilson-Sampras).

The set-up of The Wedding Planner is pure screwball comedy, and in the hands of a more accomplished director, the pay-off could have been hugely entertaining.

Sadly, first-time feature director Shankman doesn't have the necessary skills to play up the ensuing comedy of errors. Camerawork lacks pizzazz and the San Francisco locales seem flat and lifeless.

It doesn't help one bit that his leads, attractive as they both are, possess no on-screen chemistry. There's not one smouldering ember of sexual tension - they may as well be acting in completely different pictures.

Lopez changes into various tight-fitting frocks, and is photographed in extreme close-up as much as possible. Her character is unsympathetic, and is certainly undeserving of a guy as sweet and endearing as Dr Edison, played with wit and self-deprecating charm by McConaughey.

Jo Lo is a big no no. Leave her standing at the altar.