This new British romantic comedy from the Producers of the 1994 surprise mega-hit ‘Four Weddings & A Funeral’ starts where usually most others end i.e. with a lavish Church wedding.  After a fairly whirlwind courtship laid-back novelist Josh is marrying high-flying brand consultant Nat much to the slight disbelief of several of their friends and family. It’s Nat’s caustic sister Naomi who says out loud what others are thinking as the pair walk down the aisle that gives us the title of the piece.

The action fast forwards nine months with the marriage already in trouble and the couple are seeking counselling.  Through a series of flashbacks we get to discover what exactly happened.  Josh it seems, is still carrying a torch for Chloe his ex-girlfriend who, as an overly serious charity worker, had been abroad ‘saving the world’, whilst Nat falls for Guy, a dashing wealthy American Client.

The premise of the piece is not so much as why their new lovers are so perfect, but why their own relationship was essentially a non-starter in the first place.  (Apart from the sex, which evidently was very hot).  It’s a brave and unusual course to follow for a rom-com and they very nearly pull it off.

Surprisingly the film is the work of writer and first time director Dan Mazer, better known as the Oscar nominated writer of Sasha Baron Cohen’s black comedies. The subject matter seems a somewhat innocuous choice given his resume, but he has peppered the script with some very sharp dialogue and great one-liners.  He has also cast it extremely well  headed by two very likable Aussies …. Rose Byrne (‘Bridesmaids’) playing Nat, and Simon Baker (‘The Mentalist’) as Guy her new beau two, plus Anna Faris (‘Scary Movie 4’) as Chloe, and with some rather splendid British actors in all the supporting roles.  Four standouts : Olive Colman (‘Hot Fuzz’) as the unhinged Marriage Counsellor, Stephen Merchant (Ricky Gervais’s comedy partner) as the cringe-making Best Man, and Minnie Driver (‘Good Will Hunting’) & Jason Flemyng (‘Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels’) as the bickering in-laws. Rafe Spall (‘Life of Pi’) however as Josh sadly proved that he is not a romantic leading man.

If the Producers are expecting this to be their new smash-hit romance of the 2010’s they will be sadly disappointed, but its racy and funny and will find an audience who at the very least will be intrigued by the title.

★★★★★★★