It would be nice to think of another way to describe “Ceremony” than the obvious, which is that this movie suffers under the influence of Wes Anderson.
The shadow of “Rushmore” and “The Royal Tenenbaums” falls across this spirited coming-of-age picture, distractingly at times.
Too bad
, because it launches well and has its share of nicely delivered one-liners and kooky characters. “Ceremony” begins with 23-year-old Sam (Michael Angarano) grabbing his sort-of best pal Marshall (Reece Thompson) for a weekend at the beach.
Sam has had some success writing children’s books and Marshall worships him. Sam’s motives are not entirely pure, however, because he actually means to crash the wedding of an ex-flame. And, if possible, win her back.
She is Zoe. She is taller and older than Sam, because she is played by Uma Thurman.
Much of the movie consists of Sam bobbing and weaving around the ongoing wedding party, with Zoe expressing ambivalence about her ninny of a fiance (Lee Pace). The sunny Long Island locations reek of privilege, though this is not examined in any critical way by the movie.
The first half has a snappy pace, and Angarano, who often plays quieter characters, seems to be enjoying the chance to show off a little. Sam’s friendship with Reese defines his unquestioned Alpha Male role, although some of the dialogue between them suggests that Ivy League types speak to each other differently than other men friends do.
But maybe that’s part of the plan for writer-director Max Winkler, as his characters do have a distinct, slightly put-on way of talking. Winkler, son of Henry “The Fonz” Winkler, keeps this going for a while, but the final sections of the movie slow down into the usual lessons of growing up and suggestions for therapy.
Jake Johnson (“No Strings Attached”) gets real comic energy going as Zoe’s pill-dropping, champagne-chugging brother, and Thompson underplays well as Marshall.
Alas, although Thurman looks exactly right for the object of Sam’s quixotic quest, she continues to be an actress with a tendency to telegraph everything she plays, especially in comedy.
Along with its setting and arch style, the soundtrack of “Ceremony” recalls the films of Wes Anderson, with its collection of vintage pop semi-hits. Nobody enjoys hearing Ringo Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy” more than I do, but its selection here feels as arbitrary as any of the other tunes on the film’s iPod shuffle.
“Ceremony” (2 stars)
A lovelorn writer (Michael Angarano) grabs his best buddy and crashes the Long Island wedding of an ex-flame (Uma Thurman). Max Winkler’s film begins with a snappy pace and some fun one-liners, although it begins to run down after that, and it’s too imitative of Wes Anderson’s “Rushmore” and “Royal Tenenbaums” to break into its own voice.
Rated: R for language, subject matter
Showing: Varsity
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