My Best Friend's Wedding

Julia Roberts returns from her brief flirtation with Serious Acting (Mary Reilly, Michael Collins) to give the people what they want: a smiling head of hair facing romantic complications. And it's an appealing enough little comedy, even if Roberts never looks entirely comfortable with the premise. She should be both devious and likeable as a woman trying to stop the wedding of an old flame, but the script assumes that a movie star can't play dirty and still be sympathetic, so the resulting comedy is restrained, at best. Thank heavens for Rupert Everett's show-stealing turn as Roberts' supportive gay friend, and director P. J. Hogan's bursts of musical irreverence. Their efforts buoy a film hampered by a star forced to play...well...a smiling head of hair facing romantic complications, instead of a real character. Still, a strong optional purchase given its sell-through price. (S. Renshaw)