Synopsis:
Ex-maid of honour Eloise (Anna Kendrick) - having been relieved of her duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text - decides to hold her head up high and attend her oldest friend’s wedding anyway. She finds herself seated at the ‘random’ table in the back of the ballroom with a disparate group of strangers, most of whom should have known just to send regrets (but not before sending something nice off the registry). As everyone’s secrets are revealed, Eloise learns a thing or two from the denizens of Table 19. Friendships - and even a little romance - can happen under the most unlikely circumstances.
-Fox Searchlight Pictures
Film Review:
A chick flick about a group of random people seated at a table where nobody would want to be. Table 19, is a romantic comedy that starts off quite slow and picks up a little bit in the end but it doesn’t actually become any more attractive than what it is. The plot is very simple, it’s a wedding reception where the protagonist, Eloise (Anna Kendrick) attended the wedding despite her getting demoted. From maid of honour and ex-girlfriend to the best man and brother of the bride Teddy (Wyatt Russell) to being a regular guest. All these, just so she could find out if she still has feelings for him. She then meets this group of strangers and gets to know them.
The story would eventually unfold into a slightly bigger picture showing all the different tales of the other five guests on the table, including husband and wife Bina and Jerry ( Lisa Kudrow and Craig Robinson) who apparently have been having marital issues for three years. Rezno, (Toni Revoloni) who plays a desperate for romance teenager and has an overbearing mother that keeps calling him every 15 minutes. Walter (Stephen Merchant) is quite a funny and mysterious character in the group but ends up being the most interesting one among them. Lastly, Jo ( June Squibb) aka Nanny Jo, the brides ex-nanny who is the kindest and most caring person the whole world but can also be the toughest among them.
The main cast is definitely adorable and did mostly well with their roles as unique individuals forced to sit with each other but surprisingly ending up as besties. Unfortunately, the film is not cute or funny at all. It’s generally cheesy and poorly executed with a slightly misleading twist when Eloise was confronted of what seemed to be a love triangle only to find out an utterly confusing discovery.
Table 19, is a dry comedy that appears more like a dramedy. A film that one might like to watch when bored or have nothing else to watch. A mediocre romantic comedy film that doesn’t have many surprises or comic scenes to enjoy. It appears more like a drama than a comedy. Overall, the film is unexciting and dragging with a not so well thought plot and script.
Out in NZ cinemas May 4, 2017
NZ Rating: M Offensive language, sexual references & drug use