THE WEDDING RINGER...tying an empty hole

Why is that most the best reviewed films, those that mostly ended getting nominations and lots of awards, competing at the most recognized festivals, raved by circles of critics, usually ended with a low or modest box office? How come if films are a type of art, they tend to be not well appreciated? Or is it about the audience that is looking more for an entertainment than an expression from an artist?

So why all this dull movies, simple comedies with just a bunch of gags all put together make millions in the box office or those action movies with no plot other than lots of explosions, loud, amateur  and unknown cast become so popular among the popular culture? Well its not always about the art but how well done the movie is.

Let's say that in recent times we are looking in the movies a way to identify ourselves with a story that will make us feel better about our own experiences instead of use them as an expression of ancient times, unexplored worlds, fairy tales, and others that were use before and became classics. Now people like to see what is normal or if not a way to relate with their own reality. Even if its sic fiction or a horror movie, what really scares these days is what is possible to happen.

Hence why movies like "The Wedding Ringer" (2015), turn into a box office success. So let's talk about these movies that everybody but the critics loves. Or what everybody calls a guilty pleasure. The story of a guy, the guy without the looks of a jock or a womanizer, with a job that keeps him extra hours in the office but with enough money to pay for expensive trips and an expensive wedding, but most important this guy is a nerd, not a social guy, so has no social skills and no friends so when a gorgeous woman accepts to marry him, he needs to find a best man and a group of friends on his side.

As every's man dream, getting a beautiful, cool girlfriend would mean everything. But what about the connection between you and her? is it enough just the idea of have her as a trophy and show off her, even if theres no much to share in the times when its only you and her? Sadly thats what happen here, once that our nerd pays for a service where he gets a best man and a group of best friends, he 'll start to notice that missing spark, when theres no much in common with his fiancee as he has with this group of strangers.

Then comes the realization of how important is to have a group of people to rely on, to feel supported, to share stupid moments, experiences to talk about, to feel part of something bigger than yourself, and even a different kind of love but a necessary one. but this is all just part of a business transaction, so what would happen once the wedding is over and he'll have to go back to real life?

Well, definitely the plot won't do much about getting deeper into these characters, the sense of humor won't be smart with memorable lines but slapstick and goofy, the writing won't be deep, and follow a story arc but the traditional create, resolution of a problem with all cliches included and predictible ending. But what we'll definitely find is a very entertaining story with these characters that as unidimensional as they seem, we can relate as probably we've meet lots like them as the movie becomes a tribute to friendship and that group of friends we grew up with and their meaning in everyone's life. 

And at the end the story has heart and the feeling of what discovering a friendship means so that anyone can relate to, making us have a good time at the movies, forget our simple lives, problems, and if single or coupled, we'll cherish those people we care about, which at the end we'll make us leave the theater with a smile on the face even if we didn't see a piece of art and probably will forget the movie next week with the new releases, but everything would be about those 2 hours of our life, so bad that ends to be good?  Would that be what movies are meant to be now?