"LAUGHTER, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP: LET'S REDISCOVER 'MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING'"

Let's face it, the premise of the film certainly doesn't scream "originality" but the film is so well acted and structured that you can easily ignore it. The film manages to perfectly capture the essence of the complications of love and friendship, intertwining moments of hilarious comedy with moments of pure vulnerability. The dynamic between Julianne and the other characters, such as Diaz's feisty Kimmy and Everett's sarcastic George, who also tries to be Roberts' "voice of reason", offers a series of memorable lines and hilarious situations that will be remembered forever. long even after the credits. 

The nostalgia for true loves and the relationships that have marked us is a central theme. In an era like the current one, in which technology has changed the way we connect, rewatching a 1997 film manages to make us reflect on how precious authentic human bonds are, be it love or a true and profound friendship. and how today we forget too easily to celebrate these relationships, when we are lucky enough to have them.

But now we come to the moment I prefer most, which is to reveal some curiosities from behind the scenes of the film, for example, did you know that Initially, the role of Julianne Potter was offered to Sarah Jessica Parker? Or that Julia Roberts initially turned down the role? Well, I'll tell you this and much more in: The 10 curiosities that perhaps you don't know about “My Best Friend's Wedding” :

 1) Parker, who was the first choice for the role of the protagonist, had to refuse due to her commitments with the iconic series “ Sex & The City”. When Roberts was given the role, she didn't immediately accept. The reason? The character, in a first draft, did not undergo personal growth. After some changes, Julia accepted the role, once again consecrating herself as the queen of romantic comedies.

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 2) The wonderful scene where the cast sings I say a little prayer in a restaurant was improvised during filming, without any script. The director, P.J. Hogan in fact preferred to let the actors interact in a natural way. A perfect choice, considering that that scene later became one of the most iconic.

 3) Rupert Everett, who lent the face to George Downes, initially only had a handful of lines. In an interview Everett said: “When I got the offer, I literally only had two lines in the whole movie. So I wasn't well disposed. I was wondering: what's the point?” the actor said. Then he and the director worked on the character, making it much more impactful.

Everett received much praise for his performance. His performance helped make the character of George an icon of the LGBTQ+ community in mainstream cinema of the 1990s.

4) Initially, the character of Kimberly was not intended for Cameron Diaz. Insiders were thinking of giving it to Drew Barrymore. The choice then fell on Diaz thanks to Julia Roberts, who decided to propose her.

5) In 2019, 22 years after the release of the film, the cast of “My Best Friend's Wedding” organized a reunion. An event that gave fans a little gem about the ending of the film: initially, in fact, Julianne would have had her happy ending by meeting and falling in love with one of the guests (played by John Corbett), a scene later replaced with the one in which Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett dance together. As explained by  Hogan, the director: “Viewers didn't want Julianne to have a happy ending. They hadn't forgiven her yet. They weren't ready to see her in the arms of another.”

6) One of the most memorable and, perhaps, most important scenes of the film is when the character by Cameron Diaz, Kimmy, is dragged into the spotlight to perform at a karaoke bar. Suffice it to say, karaoke is the last thing he wants to do. It's one of the first times Julianne tries to get Kimmy into trouble, but Kimmy still manages to escape unscathed. But if his terror seemed real, it's because it really was! The actress was really scared to sing in front of so many people, even if she had to do it badly. Diaz said: “I was terrified of doing that scene, really. I let the real terror of singing in front of people come to life inside me.”

7) In 2015 it was revealed that ABC was developing a television version of "My Best Friend's Wedding", which would It was a continuation of the story and not a reboot. Unfortunately, there have been no significant developments since the announcement and we can only assume that, like many other projects, this one too has stalled, probably without ever seeing the light. There was also talk of a possible sequel in which Julianne would try to sabotage George's wedding; we have a feeling it would be a very welcome addition to the franchise!

8) In an interview with the Huffington Post given years after the film was made, Actor Dermot Mulroney, who plays Michael in the film, has revealed why he thinks the film continues to stand out despite so many romantic comedies having been released since then. He says the secret lies in the fact that the plot is not centered on a happy ending between the two romantic leads, but is rather a kind of farce, in which the audience witnesses Julianne fail spectacularly in her attempt to sabotage this marriage . Creators of modern romantic comedies, take note!

9) When "My Best Friend's Wedding" was being filmed, Julia Roberts was already a great movie star, so it's no surprise that it was tricky for her to shoot outdoor scenes in Chicago without being mobbed by fans. A fun example is the scene on the ferry, where it seems like something is finally about to happen between Julianne and Michael. The boat they are on continues to pass under the bridge, but during filming they had to deal with fans screaming Julia's name, interrupting the scene every time.

10) If we asked fans if Michael and Kimmy's marriage would be long-term, we'd probably get mixed answers. Kimmy, after all, was barely out of her teens when the two got married, and it's not like they exactly had much in common. But, pessimism about divorce rates aside, cast members largely believe these two would still be happily married! In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dermot Mulroney said: "He supports the whole theory that she's the right girl for him, and he's the right guy for her, right?".

It would be really reductive to define this film as just a romantic comedy. It is a journey into the labyrinths of the heart, where laughter and feelings are inextricably intertwined. It is a film that invites us to reflect on love, friendship and the importance of having the courage to express our feelings. If my homage to the film has aroused in you the desire to see it again, you can find “My Best Friend's Wedding” on Netflix and on Amazon Prime for rent at €3.99. See you next time, my dear readers, and may life continue to be a sweet comedy, full of romantic surprises!

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