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My best friend's wedding - Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett, PJ Hogan

Threat advisory: Severe - Severe risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Julianne fell in love with her best friend the day he decided to marry someone else.

Nine years ago, Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) and Michael O'Neal (Dermot Mulroney) made that mysterious transition from lovers to just friends. It is an arrangement that still appeals to Julianne, whose idea of commitment is measured in days rather than years, even if Michael is still carrying the proverbial torch.

Best friends since that fateful day in university, they made a pact that if neither had found someone to love by the age of 28, they would marry each other. It seemed like a goof at the time... except that maybe one of them wasn't joking. Now it's their 28th year of life, and Michael just popped the question. There's only one problem: he popped it to someone else.

Persons of interest

Julia Roberts .... Julianne "Jules" Potter
Dermot Mulroney .... Michael "Mike" O'Neal
Cameron Diaz .... Kimberly "Kim/Kimmy" Wallace
Rupert Everett .... George Downes
Philip Bosco .... Walter Wallace
M Emmet Walsh .... Joe O'Neal
Rachel Griffiths .... Samantha Newhouse
Carrie Preston .... Mandy Newhouse
Susan Sullivan .... Isabelle Wallace
Christopher Masterson .... Scotty O'Neal
Ronald Bass .... Screenwriter
PJ Hogan .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

See also Made of honour (Made of honor)

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Gossip says that this film has resurrected not only romantic comedy but also Julia's career (believe in miracles yet?) and the thing is that gossip is right: a romantic comedy worth seeing and Julia in a film that's worth seeing. 2 for the price of 1!

My best friend's is in a very different kettle from Muriel's wedding, but fish it certainly is. It is brilliantly funny, moving, challenging, entertaining. There's no ABBA, but there is lots of Bacharach, so that's all right. Julia Roberts is still Julia (what else) but we see her actually perform, which is something to record in your diary. Dermot Mulroney is cute and confused. Cameron Diaz is perky and bright and intense. Together they are great, but what makes this movie is the supporting cast.

Rachel Griffiths and M Emmett Walsh do parts that amount to little more than featured extras but provide a depth of talent that most romantic comedies can't imagine let alone manage.

But the best thing in the film is Rupert Everett as Julia's other (newer) best friend, editor and faux fiancé: ever so slightly gay, the funniest character, the funniest lines and the moral backbone of the whole thing. Rupie ranges from butch fiancé to caring human being to big girlie screaming queen in a performance that is seamless. And he has the funniest lines. (Did I mention that already? Too bad! He's great!) What's amazing in terms of political correctness is that he has a committed relationship (although we never see it) and he doesn't take to anyone with an axe. How Hollywood is changing!

PJ has made a brilliant movie (and I won't tell you what happens in the end) that is just brilliant. Sorry, I've run out of superlatives. See it, you'll enjoy it. This is what romantic comedies should all be like.

Security censorship classification

M (Low level coarse language)

Surveillance time

105 minutes (1:45 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 25 September 1997