THE WEDDING GUEST (2018) – Review

Spring arrived (finally) just a few days ago, so what better time for a flick about one of the season’s most frequent events and celebration, a wedding. From the title, we gather that it must be a “rom-com” romp with all the chaos and confusion associated with “tying the knot”. And since it comes from writer/director Michael Winterbottom, the man who helmed that hilarious THE TRIP trilogy and stars the energetic Dev Patel from the Marigold Hotel movies, it’ll have lots of laughs and warmth (maybe Coogan and Brydon will cruise in). Well, you’d be mistaken if you gathered all this from the title, or to quote one of the better songs from MARY POPPINS RETURNS, “The Cover is not the Book”. No, this is an Eastern trek into classic film noir territory as we strap ourselves in for a road trip with THE WEDDING GUEST.

Said title character is a British-raised Indian Muslim named (well, it’s what he answers to) Jay. As we meet him, he’s just flown into Pakistan, informing the authorities that he’s going to a wedding. He proceeds to rent a car for two weeks (perhaps turning the trip into a vacation). Jay then stops off in a small dusty village to purchase two pistols (uh oh), then buys a roll of “very strong” duct tape (double uh oh). A few miles up the road he parks his car and rents another one (wha-) and completes the trip to the wedding locale, an opulent estate outside another tiny town. After renting a room, Jay embarks on his trek’s true mission. Evading the gate guard, he climbs the fence, enters the home, and abducts the intended bride, Samira (Radhika Apte). A flash of violence complicates Jay’s plan, but they make it back to his vehicle. After tossing her into the trunk (she’s bound, gagged, and hooded) they speed away into the night. Making it back to the first rented car, Jay lets Samira out of the trunk and informs her of the plan. If she wants to go through with the nuptials, he’ll leave her by the side of the road near town. But if she wishes to be reunited with her London love, Deepish, he’ll take her to him in India. Samira chooses the ladder, and after a quick clothes change, they head across the border to India. But things soon go “sideways” as Deepish (Jim Sarbh) gets “cold feet” when the big “bride-napping” makes the news. But Samira insists on seeing him, and Jay just wants to get paid for the job and its “complications”, one being the attraction between abductor and captive. And what was the couple’s big “endgame” involving Deepesh’s family business of precious gems and stones? Will this triangle take a deadly turn?

The lead role is a big departure for the usually sunny, cerebral star of this dark tale. Patel (who’s also one of the film’s producers) embraces that darkness giving us a determined calculating criminal-for-hire, one hoping to avoid violence but is prepared, nonetheless to strike first in order to survive and collect his bounty. Jay is a mystery, a man full of contradictions, stopping off on the way to the job in order to do his daily prayers, then quickly back in his deadly “professional duties”. Has he always done this “sort of thing”? Where did he acquire these “special skills”? We, along with the other characters, never find out, as Patel builds a secretive, protective wall around Jay. And Patel is completely believable in this complex, but brutal role. Now what Jay is not prepared for is the alluring Samira played by Apte unlike a typical noir “dangerous dame”. She slowly turns from timid captive to calculating partner, knowing that her face and name are all over the news. Apte, through her large expressive eyes, conveys Samira’s almost fear of Jay morph into an emotional bond. Of course, much of this is escalated by her weasel of a longtime beau Deepesh played with an oily arrogance by Sarbh. He’s a smooth-talking wild card, showing his “true colors” when things go awry. Sarbh’s so convincing that we wonder what Samira ever really saw in him. This is one twisted talented trio.

Winterbottom has concocted a unique crime thriller that’s mixed with a “budding friendship” road picture. As mentioned earlier it’s an exotic spin on the classic noir films with plenty of double and triple-crosses and a tough, rough, “all-business” pro whose “hard edges’ slowly soften via a very smart ‘skirt”. The suspense builds from the mysterious first act as we’re pondering the motives of Jay as he gathers his “tools”, finally exploding in the nearly botched mansion invasion and “grab”. From there’s it becomes almost a “travelogue’ as we view the gorgeous locales from all manner of transportation (cars, trains, even a “sleeper” bus) and accommodations (from “dirty dives” to swanky plush suites). This builds to the inevitable meeting of the three principals, which, as feared, quickly goes “south”. And as James Cain reminded us, “The Postman always rings twice”. Though the plot has familiar elements, the cast and settings make THE WEDDING GUEST an engaging “slow boil”.

3.5 Out of 5

THE WEDDING GUEST opens everywhere and screens exclusively in St. Louis at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas and Tivoli Theatre