Edward Burns first came to national prominence with the micro budgeted indie film ‘The Brother McMullen’ and from that, he’s launched himself quite the career.  I’ve never seen the ‘The Brother’s McMullen’ and in fact the only Ed Burns movie I’ve seen is the completely awful ‘A Sound of Thunder’.  ‘A Sound of Thunder' was SO bad, that I almost think it was done that way on purpose.  Ed Burns only starred in that, by the way, he didn’t write or direct.

In Mr. Burns latest film, ‘The Groomsmen’ in which he does write and direct, he churns out a nice little tale with some funny bits sprinkled in and some fine performances (except from Mr. Burns, oddly enough) that is probably a little bit too sweet, sappy and neat for it’s own good.

Burns plays Paulie, an all around good guy about to get married to his pregnant sweetie Sue (Brittany Murphy).  His Groomsmen are all set.  There’s his fat, mean-spirited, self destructive brother Jimbo (Donal Logue), his good natured, profane, lovable loser of a cousin Mike (Jay Mohr), there’s Dez (Matthew Liard), the solid family man and bar owner who wants to get the band back together for one last chance to ROCK, and then there’s T.C. (John Leguizamo) who has been MIA for the last 8 years and has pissed off cousin Mike something fierce.  T.C. is also a deep dark secret from his friends.

Paulie loves Sue, but damn if this wedding thing isn’t coming just too dang fast!  What if he’s not doing the right thing.  And his strip club loving, wife ignoring, twinkie

devouring brother isn’t making things any easier by calling his little bro’s fiancé a ‘bitch’.  Cousin Mike still lives at home and pines for a girl who despises him, friend T.C. is well, dammit, he’s gay!  I had to spoil it because it’s soooooo obvious soooo early.  The only one sure of himself is Dez, who’s only problem is a penchant for rocking his bass guitar shirtless.

One of the great things about this movie is the authentic way the male characters relate to one another.  Men, particularly those of us of working class descent, do have unique way of communicating and it’s mostly good natured, sometimes harsh, oft times profane, and can be funny when it’s not you who’s the target.  Burns captures these relationships wonderfully, and since it’s the bulk of the movie, the movie as a whole is better for it.  As the actors go, Jay Mohr is one funny dude.  He’s funny in just about everything.  He’s a funnier actor than a stand up comedienne though.  Sorry Jay.  But he’s funny as hell in ‘The Groomsmen’.  Also, Mathew Liard is very good as the calm center of this of bin of lunatics, but still manages to be like the coolest dad ever rocking six string axes with his sons.  This is the guy that plays Shaggy for goodness sakes.  Who knew dude could actually ‘act’.  I’m thinking that in Dez, Burns is transferring how he would have like his own father to be.  Psychology class is now over .  . 

The only actor who really seemed to have some trouble was Ed Burns.  I mean I know he’s got that classic tall, good looking, square Hollywood chin thing going on, but he is rather wooden and emotionless in his delivery.  Brittany Murphy’s Sue character was getting on my freaking nerves too with her CONSTANT WHINING!  For the love of GOD woman, rub your own damn feet.

Where the movie comes up short though, and this could easily be debated, is the ending.  Everything ties up just too nice.  Paulie realizes how much he loves Sue, fixes her breakfast and finally rubs her damn feet.   His brother Jimbo explains why he is such as dick and everybody, including his emotionally abused wife, hug and enjoy a teary joyful moment.  T.C. tells his friends he’s gay, and they all lovingly accept it.  All of them.  They don’t even say anything bad behind his back.  Then we top it with the cherry on top in the way of a home film styled wedding montage as the credits roll.  Whatever.  I’m thinking if I told my friends I was gay, at least ONE of them would have a major problem with it, and you can take that to bank.  But of course, I could be wrong, but since we won’t be exiting that closet anytime soon we will never find out.

That aside, Ed Burns ‘The Groomsmen’ is a fine film and one well worth catching should it happen to come your way.