Gay Best Friend: Gareth & Matthew in "Four Weddings and a Funeral"

by Christopher James

Mike Newell’s Four Weddings and a Funeral is an odd delight. The Best Picture nominee (I know, right?!) takes place almost entirely at those five titular events. Every three months, at least half the ensemble gets engaged or married. Despite having chemistry, our lead couple Charles (Hugh Grant) and Carrie (Andie MacDowell) seem to only exist in hotel rooms. Similarly, we skip over a lot of development with the other members of the core friend group. That’s part of the fun of the film. With such large gaps between weddings and funerals, we get snippets of their lives, rather than full pictures. Thus, putting an out gay couple on equal screen time footing as the rest of the members of the ensemble was a major step forward. 

However, by only showing glimpses, we get a rather incomplete look at Gareth (Simon Callow) and Matthew (John Hannah). Still, they were a major step forward in the “gay best friend” trope because they got to be out and in a healthy, loving relationship... 

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25th Anniversary: "Four Weddings and a Funeral"

by Deborah Lipp

Four Weddings and a Funeral turns 25 today. This is probably not also the number of times I’ve seen it, but it might be. I’m sure if you add the times Professor Spouse and I have each seen it, we exceed that number.  To say, therefore, that this is a beloved movie is a ridiculous understatement.

Here’s what we’re going to cover after the jump to celebrate its birthday...

• Four Weddings is highly quotable
• It features the best use of "fuck," and its variations, this side of Get Shorty
• Screenwriter Richard Curtis excels at movies that are kind-heartd and generous
• Four Weddings isn't perfect, but I will teach you the trick of making it perfect

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