Screen Adaptation of Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding Fails Miserably

Tony n' Tina's Wedding is based on the off-Broadway play of the same name. The play has enjoyed modest, if not overwhelming, success since it opened 1988. This is partially due to the audience participating in the movie in the form of reception guests at the aforementioned wedding. Does the film version live up the standards of the play?

Tony Nunzio and Tina Vitale are a young couple from New York who are eager to tie the knot shortly after their high school graduation. Both of their dysfunctional families are against the wedding but agree to get along for the wedding. Unfortunately, the head of Nunzio family, "Big T" and the head of the Vitale clan, Mrs. Vitale, were once involved with each other but suffered a very ugly break-up and still hold grudges. The priest has radically different ideas about the ceremony than the happy couple. Then there is the wedding singer who will only sing what he chooses. To top it all of, the groomsmen are potheads, the bridesmaids are tramps, and Tina's ex-boyfriend still holds a torch for her. I almost forgot, the maid of honor is rather pregnant.

While this sounds like the makings of a very funny film, it isn't. Instead of the audience being part of the reception crowd, we see things through the lens of the videographer. The entire script is poorly written and thoroughly laced with way too much inappropriate language. Every stereotype about uncouth New Yorkers is over-used in this movie. The acting is as overdone as a bad steak and most of it is done at the top of the actors' voices.

This film is rated R and was originally shown back in 2004 at the Tribeca Film Festival. It was released to a limited amount of theaters in late November 2007. It stars former New Kids on the Block member, Joey McIntyre and Mila Kunis in the title roles. While the play was decent, this re-tooled screen version aspires towards that mediocrity and fails miserably. I encourage you to avoid this film as you would a rabid badger.