“You’re assuming that you’re normal, which is hilarious.” —Frank
Today’s quick review: Destination Wedding. Frank (Keanu Reeves) and Lindsay (Winona Ryder) hate each other instantly when they meet at the airport, and they are disgusted to find out that they are both headed to the same destination wedding. But over the course of an excruciating weekend, they grudgingly bond over acerbic quips, their shared hatred of the bride and groom, and their pessimistic views on life and romance.
Destination Wedding is a cynical romantic comedy about a pair of misanthropes stuck together for the weekend. Destination Wedding features a minimalistic story with just two speaking roles. Frank and Lindsay watch from the sidelines as the wedding unfolds, taking verbal shots at the guests, each other, and their own miserable lives.
Destination Wedding’s minimalism is a double-edged sword. The lack of distractions brings Frank and Lindsay’s distinctive personalities to the fore and gives the clever, incisive dialogue a chance to shine. But there are no interruptions to vary up the tone or soften the edge of their cynicism. From start to finish, the movie is one long conversation between two jaded people, which can be taxing for anyone who doesn’t share their worldview.
How much you get out of Destination Wedding will depend strongly on your taste. The premise is unique enough to make the movie interesting to watch on intellectual grounds, and Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder are great fits for their roles. But the one-note storytelling and relentless cynicism take their toll. Avoid it if you are looking for a conventional or emotionally satisfying romantic comedy.
For a minimalistic drama that uses its restricted cast for more dramatic ends, try Locke or The Guilty. For a dry, surreal, and unsettling drama with a similarly cynical take on romance, try The Lobster. For a more upbeat romantic comedy that takes shots at the concept of true love, try 500 Days of Summer.
[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6987770/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for an experimental storytelling style that’s intriguing but monotonous.