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License to Wed

Relationship comedy is more like passive-aggressive theater

By Matt Pais, Metromix

July 3, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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Before Ben (John Krasinski of "The Office") and Sadie (Mandy Moore) can get hitched, they must pass an oddly confrontational marriage prep course taught by an eccentric reverend (Robin Williams) who may have them on a path to splitsville.

Big question: How quickly will you want to separate from this lowbrow comedy?

Skip it: Williams has become a comedic glass ceiling, a black hole of laughs that guarantees every scene he's in will make nails on a chalkboard sound appealing. Krasinski's got potential as a go-to everyman, but just one problem: Ben never seems to love Sadie as much as Jim loves Pam on "The Office."

Catch it: If, like Ben, you once wrote an adoring letter to figure skating icon Brian Boitano. If he's cool enough for the "South Park" movie, he's cool enough for us!

Bottom line: It's pretty sad to see Krasinski's face subjected to dog spit and robot-baby pee. More upsetting is the adherence to marital gender stereotypes (woman: controlling harpie; man: scared wuss) and the idea that Williams could be trusted as an expert on anything other than how to kill a movie.

Bonus: Looking for some new euphemisms for sex? Ben has a few, such as "walk the midget" and "pickle me, tickle me." Use at your own risk of a canceled engagement.

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