Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
BeSummers
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
Quiet Muffin
This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
christian-mancas
Superb comedy, full of grace, good quality humor, fine taste, and with an excellent Christian Clavier in the leading role. No taboo is spared - be it of the French, Jews, Chinese, Arabs, of Africans on others, as well as on themselves. Gentle satirical approach of mimicked "open-mindness" that always proves to be shadowed by at least a little bit of racism. Also romantic, from the start to the end. Beautiful story on an apparently impossible family, which today's Western Europe - and especially France - makes possible. For understanding everything in depth, review history on Arafat, Bokassa, Idi Amin Dada, etc. Not historical, as Louis de Funes' Rabbi Jacob, but not far away from it. A en mourir de rire! (The French for To die from laughing!)
surdurodica
I have seen a few french movies and I did not like them, they are different.. But there are a few ones which deserve any minute spent on watching. This movie is one of the best, I cried and I laugh during entire film. It encourage people to love each other no matter what, it teach parents that we live in a different time, it teach all of us that we are all people and deserve to be honest and friends.I recommend watching it. I am in process of learning french and this is one movie which make you to want to learn french and love this country.Congruatulation to the regizors for making it so funny and real, as this is real not only in France but in entire world! Good pointed!
Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
That they got 4 daughters who marry a Jew, a Muslim, a Chinese and now also a Black man. The title already tells you the path of this movie. It is VERY politically incorrect. So, if you are easily offended, shout racism on every occasion or can't laugh about stereotypes, then don't watch it. For me, it worked on almost every level. There is no greater equality than mocking all religions at the same time. Yesterday I watched "Le meraviglie" which shows us the ways of a father with 4 (considerably younger) daughters in rural Italy. Here we have the same situation in France. "Serial (Bad) Weddings" (the international title, don't really like it) has by far been the most watched film in France this year and made twice as much money as the second place movie. It is the 4th most successful film in France since 2002 (probably longer, that's only how far back I looked) after "Intouchables", the "Ch'tis" and "Avatar". One reason may be that director/writer Philippe de Chauveron and his co-writer Guy Laurent go way back and have worked together on many movies already.And, also for me, this is a success, possibly the funniest 2014 film I have seen so far. We will see if it stays this way. And the great thing about it is that the way they summarized the 3 first marriages early on so quickly, they could turn any of these into a prequel to this movie. The center here is the youngest of the 4 sisters (she looks like a French Rachl McAdams), who gets married to a Senegalese. There were really only very minor flaws there. One example, I thought the whole parents-possibly-divorcing story at the end was a bit undeveloped and random. And I also did not like those ethnicity-related nicknames they gave each other. These kinda lacked the wit the dialogs otherwise had. But these criticisms do not take away anything from the film, which was usually at its best when it did not try to be dramatic, but 100% comedy. The ending is unsurprisingly the wedding and the speeches of the two dads provide nice closure.Performance-wise the highlight was former Astérix (wow, did he look different back then) Christian Clavier. His face expressions were always so hilarious, early on at the three wedding ceremonies already. He had the funniest scenes of the film, the motor saw scene or his reaction when he hears that his new son-in-law will be a Christian named Charles. (How did he not know the name? The two shared an apartment for over a year.) He looked so happy. And then his face expression, when he sees him the first time. Awesome. But all the others did fine too, the wife, the daughters, the husbands... My favorite scene from the husbands was when they unite to prove that the Senegalese cheats on his soon-to-be wife. Another comedic highlight of the film, especially when they find out it was actually his sister. Even the minor characters are very funny, like the priest with his laughing fit or the psychologist who always has the right answers to his patients' questions.The one thing I did not recognize so strongly here was the music, which is usually very specific in French movies. But that could have been because I was just too distracted and entertained by the action and humor. Really quality movie and you will find it truly funny if the politically incorrect humor is your cup of tea.
IndustriousAngel
A successful member of the very popular make-fun-of-racism-comedy sub-genre (earlier entries include, among others, monster hit "Intouchables", "Paulette", "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" and "Les Invincibles"), this comedy shines not so much by originality or surprises - most gags and the general plot are very obvious choices - as by flawless execution. The rhythm of the gags is relentless - punch, punch, punch ... - not a single boring moment - and I really liked the cast and characters - a bunch of very lovable people, and who's not so from the start will have been turned over to the bright side by the end. Altogether, a rather sweet mix, but recommended for the nice performances and the quick-footed pace!
