Midweek Mention... Wedding Crashers

Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week, we're diving headfirst into the chaotic, outrageous, and undeniably quotable world of Wedding Crashers (2005), a film that helped define mid-2000s comedy with its mix of raunch, romance, and relentless party energy.Directed by David Dobkin, the film stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn as John and Jeremy—divorce mediators by day and professional wedding crashers by night. Their philosophy? Weddings are the perfect place to score free food, drinks, and flings, all while soaking up the joyful atmosphere and dancing with old ladies.Everything changes when the pair infiltrates a high-profile political wedding hosted by the powerful Cleary family. What begins as another con turns unexpectedly sincere when John falls for Claire Cleary (played by Rachel McAdams), throwing a wrench into the duo’s longstanding bro-code. Meanwhile, Jeremy finds himself entangled in a wildly unhinged relationship with Claire's aggressively forward sister Gloria (Isla Fisher), leading to one of the film’s most memorable comedic arcs.The movie thrives on the chemistry between Vaughn and Wilson, with Vaughn delivering mile-a-minute riffs and Wilson grounding the story with unexpected romantic sincerity. It’s a perfect example of the era’s “man-child comedy” formula: crude jokes balanced by a sentimental core and a redemptive character arc.But let’s be honest—Wedding Crashers hasn’t aged entirely gracefully. Some of its attitudes toward dating, gender roles, and consent feel uncomfortable through a modern lens, and the film’s relentless pursuit of laughs sometimes comes at the expense of taste. That said, it still delivers big on energy, memorable one-liners, and the sheer absurdity of the crash-and-burn lifestyle.Also: shoutout to Bradley Cooper as the smarmy villainous boyfriend and Christopher Walken doing his usual weird brilliance as the Cleary patriarch. Plus, the film’s surprise cameo in the third act is still one of the all-time great rom-com twists.Ultimately, Wedding Crashers remains a significant entry in the bro-comedy canon—problematic in parts, yes, but undeniably influential and still packed with crowd-pleasing laughs. Whether you're in it for the romance or the ridiculousness, there’s plenty to talk about. 🎉💒🥂🕺💬You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at [email protected] or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads