User reviews

It is the absolute opposite of every adjective you'd use to describe a romance movie. This has no magical moments or an amazing scene when the two characters meet or fall in love. I generally think Keanu Reeves doesn't do much acting, his character is usually the same in every movie, but in this it was perfect casting. Winona Ryder as well. Him being him, Winona being Winona, it felt very genuine, none of the conversation seemed forced, it's like you're a fly on the wall following two strangers through a weekend.

It's anticlimactic but somehow keeps you interested all throughout with the dialogue, sarcasm and the lead characters who find each other despicable. And that brings out several funny scenes as well.

I'm surprised the rating isn't higher but then again it isn't a movie for everyone, it's very "anti-romantic" and only two characters speak throughout the entirety of the film which some people don't enjoy or appreciate. But this is a special movie. Reminds me of Before We Go and the Before trilogy, just bile and rancor instead.

John Wick as a grumpy, petty, cheap, middle aged man that really needs to visit an ENT specialist

Winona Ryder has been single for so long she forgot how to talk to people.

Both smartasses are cynical type that mumble sarcastic comments about everyone else in the room from the corner without noticing how bitter and envious they sound.

The pacing is slow and awkward at times making it seem less like a movie and more realistic, like they were real people or something.

It's awkward, witty, funny, smart and a special kind of sweet. The most realistic rom-com I've seen in ages and a definite must see. I don't get the negative reviews, the one flaw I see is that the leads are too sexy for the "that one loser that came to the wedding without a date" role they were playing but hey I they're good so what!

Definitely not your average rom com, full of cynicism, sarcasm, and dry humor. Ryder and Reeves make the perfect pair, there rapid fire responses make for hilarious banter. Storyline goes a little slow sometimes, and the same conversations are repeated throughout, but you can't help but relate. The hideous imposition of someone else's wedding and the certain joy of finding someone as cynical as you.

"Destination Wedding" turned out to be a wonderfully offbeat movie, and I was genuinely entertained throughout the entire movie. I had initially expected it to be just another generic romantic comedy given the fact that it had Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves on the cast list.

Writer and director Victor Levin had really managed to come up with something unique here. While the movie is set around a romantic topic, it is approached from a side angle, as the two characters aren't the ones getting married, but instead are two fringe characters attending the wedding of their half-brother and former husband. And it worked out so nicely that both Frank (played by Keanu Reeves) and Lindsay (played by Winona Ryder) were characters deeply troubled by issues.

This was definitely one of the better performances that I have seen from Winona Ryder in a long, long time, and I will say that she was really well-cast for the role of Lindsay. And while one might argue that Keanu Reeves is reinventing himself with the "John Wick" movies, then he is phenomenal as Frank in "Destination Wedding", because he really nailed the offbeat character so well. And put together, then Ryder and Reeves really have fantastic chemistry on the screen.

I am glad that writer and director Victor Levin opted not to go for a traditional romantic comedy here, and instead giving us "Destination Wedding" as it turned out to be. If you haven't already seen this wonderful movie, then you definitely should take the time to do so if you are given the chance. This was a wonderfully humorous and memorable movie.

I managed to see this on Amazon streaming. As it began I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to finish it, and at the 7 minute mark both characters seemed so dysfunctional that I considered abandoning it, but I didn't.

While there are several characters listed, only two of them speak, all the others might as well be background extras. It is a unique approach but it works pretty well.

Keanu Reeves is Frank and Winona Ryder is Lindsay. They meet, sort of, while waiting to board a plane, but it is all friction. Then they end up on an 8-passenger plane to San Luis Obispo, and they are seated next to each other. As they compare notes it turns out they are both headed to the same destination wedding in a Paso Robles vineyard. In fact she is the groom's old girlfriend and he is the groom's brother.

All this makes for a number of funny situations, the enjoyment of the viewing depends on how well one likes the two actors. He is jaded, doesn't believe relationships can ever work out beyond quick encounters. She is the romantic, she believes everyone has a special person somewhere in the world.

The funniest scene is when they encounter a mountain lion as they take a walk after the wedding. Then out of character get amourous with each other.

I suspect many viewers will really hate this experimental movie but I enjoyed it as something quite different.

The movie itself was a big pile of awkwardness ,,, the plot is simple and the scenario is a bit predictable but it has a fresh sweetness and i really love Keanu Reeves ,, and he is actually funny ,, gotta watch his appearance in the "Swedish Dicks" he was hilarious ...

The whole screenplay looked a bit like Ethan Hawke's "Before Sunrise " but funnier and has a nice closed ending.

The cast,, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder chemistry was shining in abundance it all reflected positively on the movie.

Recommended.

This movie is an example of two people reading scripted dialogue, word for word, without any belief that either of them 1) believe what they are saying and 2) are actually coming up with the words themselves.

The characters don't even process one another's lines; it's simply machine-gun mouth-fire from one "witty" bullet of dialogue to the next.

For anyone who has already thought about the points these characters are trying to hard to convey, nothing about the dialogue is interesting.

All-in-all, a boring movie filmed in one weekend that has no overall redeeming qualities. It felt like play rehearsal.

I laughed almost from start to finish. Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder are adorable together as two ridiculous people in a ridiculous situation. Anyone who likes dry humor and flawed, broken characters will love this movie.

"Is that what you dreamed of, a career in reverse fascism?"-Frank

Lindsey and Frank are the two most unpleasant and disagreeable wedding guests at a destination wedding. They meet in the airport and end up seat mates and reluctant companions throughout the events of Frank's brother who is Lindsey's ex-boyfriend's wedding somewhere in California.

These two miserable people snipe at each other and exchange barbs with one another and it is like watching a train wreck...because you kind of know what's going to happen, although I did not expect a mountain lion.

I liked this film against my own better judgment, it's angst made me laugh and as a child of the 80's I absolutely love both Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder.

I recommend this to angsty 40/50 somethings...I think they will all get a kick out of this film. Not for true romantics or the weak of heart...but for those with a dry wit and sense of humor.

This movie is absolutely terrible. It's awkward, dull, unenthusiastic and pointless. It's 1 hour and 45 minutes of these two having one monotone conversation after another in a feeble, generic and ironic attempt to be funny. If I need to get some sleep, I'll forgo the Ambien and put on this snoozer fest, and listen to Keanu and Winona read me to sleep.

Lovely, sweet and full of beautiful arguments! I regret not watching it earlier. The whole movie is the dialogues; one can call it a sitcom movie, driven by only two characters put in the various situations. Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves are impeccable in their performances. This 85 minutes long verbal drama is an anti-depression pill.

As has been said, Ryder and Reeves are the only speaking actors in the film, acting against both beautiful scenery and small sets in what looks a very low budget production but doesn't lack anything for that. From the first scene, the dialogue is fast, witty and more realistic than most rom-coms. I enjoyed it from the get-go. The scenes would make an excellent stage play, as you're engrossed in the dialogue. You have to concentrate to keep up with the asides and references.

Ryder and Reeves have great chemistry on screen and clearly know each other really well so the awkward repartee and situations are made more cringeworthy with good acting rather uncomfortable people. I would not be surprised if a lot was ad-libbed but I've not read that anywhere. Their third pairing in a film (Bram Stoker's Dracula and Private Lives of Pippa Lee - although not opposite each other in the latter) they are great together, and I'd happily watch them in other films.

It is laugh out loud funny but also in your head happy funny and I'm sure it will bear repeat watching. It would make a funny audiobook, but their facial expressions and body language are superb and add a lot to the film. They're so natural in it. For Reeves doubters, his step away from sci-fi, action and monosyllabic "woodenness" please see this and see a great dry comedic actor with brilliant timing. Actually both of them have had detractors (I love her in Reality Bites but many find her delivery annoying). Both characters are bitter, cynical and world-weary but their lack of joi de vivre is surely more true to life than peppy teens mooning over lost love but bounding into a relationship with a hop and a skip and it all being rosy, with wedding bells not far behind. For forty-fifty-something's (or whatever age they were playing - they both don't seem to age much) this film is relatable on many levels. Both of them embody their baggage brilliantly and I'm sure they must have related to some of it too - apparently both being unlucky in love themselves. Whilst we can relate to their baggage and bitchiness, they're both nice people. She is sweet and trusting and he is - for all his hatred of intimacy - a gentleman and a decent chap.

I don't think I could fault the film aside from a few potential wine glass continuity errors... it really doesn't lack for its simplicity, originality or acting close up style.

There is no nudity, not much bad language (conversational expletives of annoyance or surprise rather than as punctuation), some graphic sex references and a clothed sex scene which some viewers may find cringeworthy - that's the point - and reference to Frank's in the "sweet spot" size wise, straight "balletically formed" penis has been widely advertised/reviewed so perhaps not for younger teen watching.

For adults. And I don't mean it's rated 18... I just don't think younger adults would understand this or get the humour. Besides, why let them in on the secret angst and baggage they have to look forward to, let them have their sweet romcoms with smushy Hollywood endings while they can.

The apropos tag line: check your baggage.

Witty and hilarious. Great date night or girls night viewing.

I love Keanu but he does not belong in this role. And Winona has none of the usual quirky crazy we love her for. The "movie" sounds like two actors reciting their lines in rehearsal, with no emotion. For so much dialogue, they should at least play off each other.

Somebody must have said to them "Get a room already" so they did in this romantic comedy about very articulate and attractive yet magically single people that consider live pointless and hopeless and then enjoy their misery together way too much. The other characters in the movie were on purpose left in the background which basically makes this a two people play.

I have to say that the dialogue was witty and fun, but it went for too long and lost of its quality as it went along. Then it got to the mandatory romantic connection between the two characters, which felt a bit pointless. I mean, it's funny to watch the two grumpy old men from Muppets comment on the destination wedding of annoying people, but then making them fall for each other at the end is just gross.

Bottom line: wholly predictable, all except the dialogue which was actually fun up to a point.

This movie was hilarious! I was unsure how I would find Winona but was pleasantly grateful she was good in it. Two cynical, negative people come together on the way to a destination wedding in which they are both intimately involved with the groom and bride much to their surprise. I started laughing out loud when they hadn't even met yet at the airport by the way Frank was rolling his suitcase! To me it just got funnier and funnier... what I enjoyed the most was the dialogue they actually get to say out loud! Things sarcastic people like me say in our heads or when alone or with our spouse - things we would never say out loud in public or with most people! The situations they got into, especially the whole wildlife scene and what transpires after is just so typical of who they were and funny I was roaring! How they made it through those scenes with out bursting into laughter was quite a feat. Frank got all the best lines "you're doomed" was one of my favorite. Being in the computer field, I meet people like this all the time so to me nothing was wrong or weird about their interactions and conversations. I found it funny, truthful, honest, and actually refreshing to hear how they communicated and thought. Besides that I totally make those noises Keanu did when my sinuses/allergies are acting up, but only in front of my husband LOL, so that had us both laughing! Very entertaining and funny if you get the sarcastic cynical soul. I can't wait to see it again to hear things I may have missed while we were laughing! If you are looking for a normal or hallmark romantic comedy, you won't get it. If you are realistic and honest you will enjoy immensely. If you don't, your loss!!

This one is for jaded cynics, and just like Beatrice and Benedict in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing", the two leads in this film argue, bicker, moan, complain, cavil, insult, deride, mock and despise nearly every form of romantic love. Every romantic cliche, for sure.

As the principals do it with some intelligence and verbal ability this makes a pleasant change from the dire and moronic Rom Coms that have been served up over recent years.

There no is no reason to suggest that this offering will revive the Rom Com genre although its presentation may remind audiences that words uttered with some wit (nice platitudes are not required) are necessary to make a romantic comedy. All the sparring demonstrates intelligence and brains expressed through words can be alluring.

While the arguments over the merits of love seem nasty and cynical to audiences accustomed to sentimental pabulum the idea of debating love is a long one in poetry.

The film is not without imperfections. The dialogue talks past the other character often to make, or score, points. The ending is perfunctory and should have been written better and there are parts which echo too much, which is inevitable with the material and premise.

Even so, it holds the attention because it runs against the grain of this genre in commercial movies and Reeves and Ryder keep the rhythm sprung. Where Reeves is sour, melancholy; Ryder peppers him and her character pulls the thread along. In getting these performances, the director has done the job.

I needed a breather after this film. It was just two people bickering back and forth from what seemed like a Kevin Smith dialogue type script. Every scene was just them using words that no one would use in a real conservation. My wife and I couldn't wait until this one was over. halfway through the film she tells me "Last time I pick a movie. This one was bad."

A shame since we both like Keanu and Winona.

Really, really enjoyed this film. I haven't laughed so many times watching a movie in quite some time. The dialog is fantastic and comes at break neck speed expertly executed by both actors as if it were their own words they are speaking. Great seeing Keanu in a comedic role and Winona, well, just in anything. These two make a great pair. Definitely worth a watch. Charming film.

This movie was sloooooow and I wondered were both people mentally challenged through this whole movie. Came of like a play you would see on off broadwsy

I want to see a movie with acting, not just reading dialog, otherwise i'd rather to read a book.

Just saw this movie with my 18 year old son. We both laughed out loud. It is a very verbose script with lots of sardonic humor and dialogue. But we really liked it. Always a fan of Rider and Reeves. They are just my generation and I have a certain affection for their movies. What was surprising is that my teenage son liked it so much. I was a little skeptical taking him to see it because I knew it had mixed reviews. In the end he said he found it entertaining. The whole movie is all about the two charters meeting each other and their interpretation of the wedding. There is no other context or character interaction, but it works. It's an amusing delightful weird unorthodox relationship movie.

Great performances from two talented actors. Very tough work for both! Many long one-shot scenes terrifically achieved.

You can see that the writer / director has some issues he felt the need to put into a movie, like people calling out racism, or the shape of his penis, which he let Winona's character compliment in the most uncomfortable way. Why anyone thought it would be a good idea to make this movie is beyond me.

It's always sad to see great actors in a terrible movie.