I had the pleasure of viewing “The Wedding Ringer” two months before its premiere, and, let me tell you—you absolutely need to head to the theatres in January.

Directed by Jeremy Garelick and starring Kevin Hart and Josh Gad, “The Wedding Ringer” centers on a socially awkward groom, Doug Harris, (Josh Gad) whose wedding to Paige, the girl of his dreams (“The Big Bang Theory’s” Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting), is fast approaching. However, there’s only one issue: Doug has no friends, and therefore, no groomsmen. Most importantly, he has lied to Paige, and made her believe that his made-up best friend and best man, Bic Mitchum, will be attending the wedding.

In order to please his soon-to-be wife, he seeks help from a company run by a man named Jimmy (Hart) that allows loser grooms like himself to rent a best man for the wedding, with the condition that once the ceremony is over, the two will no longer remain friends. Doug happily pays Jimmy to play the part of “Bic Mitchum”, a fabricated best man, and Jimmy takes him on the wildest ride of his life, a few days that alter his life forever.

“The Wedding Ringer” is director Garelick’s debut, and I am quite impressed with it. Not only does the film appeal to a multitude of people with its numerous elements—comedy, action, romance and adventure—it kept me engaged the whole time. When I wasn’t laughing hysterically at Hart’s impeccable comedic role, I was sympathizing with Gad’s relatable performance, swooning at the romantic moments or holding onto my seat during the action-packed scenes.

Regarding the script, even though I went into the theater expecting corny, cheesy, clichéd dialogue just from reading the plot summary of the movie, I was pleasantly surprised by the amusing characterization, witty dialogue and inventive plot. Also, I appreciated that the plot flowed smoothly and kept my attention.
Honestly, I wanted to watch it again as soon as it ended.

“The Wedding Ringer”
Rating: ★★★★★
Release date: Jan. 16, 2015