Robin Williams is a great dramatic actor and a good comedian, but he can sometimes come on too strong to the detriment of a story. This is the unfortunate case in “License to Wed,” where a likeable but bland couple must go before Robin Williams’ minister and take a marriage preparation course, which seems more determined to break up a couple rather than prepare them for marriage. A comedy without many laughs, this film will have you uncomfortable and uninterested before the end credits roll.
Williams is Reverend Frank, a family friend of the Jones’ whose youngest child, Sadie (Mandy Moore, “American Dreamz”), just got engaged with her boyfriend, Ben (John Kraskinski, “Dreamgirls”). She wants to get married in her hometown church, and she and her fiancé must face Reverend Frank to do so. From bugging the couple’s apartment to giving them fake babies to take care of, the reverend burdens them with the stresses of marriage in the three weeks prior to the wedding date.
Kraskinski is overwhelmed by Williams in the story, as Reverend Frank constantly takes him to task for his shortcomings while having plenty of abnormal behaviors himself. Sadie’s family seems sweet and loving at the beginning, but the reverend destroys all the family’s functioning relationships before the ceremony. This does not create any humor or insight, but instead makes you feel awkward and sympathetic for the couple. The lengths Williams’ character goes to stretch believability, and your patience.
There are better marriage-related comedies on the market - I suggest you rent one of those.
Rated PG-13 for sexual humor and language.
