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When you are getting married, should you invite your sister, a known drug abuser who has been in and out of hospitals for years? In this case, Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), perhaps against her better judgment, invites Kym (Anne Hathaway), her younger sister. What follows is scene after scene of confrontation, guilt, diva-ism and the belief that eloping could be the best thing to do after all. Rachel is the patient one, while Kym can do an attention-getting diva pretty well. The phrase “everything is about me” comes to mind.
 
The story begins with Kym, riding in a car with her father (Bill Irwin) and going to Rachel’s wedding. Kym is a chain-smoker and lights up often so that you are pushing the imaginary smoke away from your face in the theater. We see the tension is that is between Rachel and Kym. Rachel is on alert for sarcastic comments from Kym and Kym is watchful of something else, which we learn about later. Dad is so buoyant that you keep waiting for him to come down to earth. The girl's mother comes to this occasion later and there is a brittleness between she and Kym. It is clear Mom chose her new life and husband over previous family. Rachel’s groom is Sidney, a quiet, thoughtful black man and his race is never mentioned. Sidney is the peacemaker and eventually we find out what happened in the family history to make Kym somewhat of an outcast. She is responsible for something that devastated the family and her addictions were part of it. Kym goes to AA meetings and finds there one of the groomsmen, Kiernan (Mather Zickel), who in his own way, tries to help her. Kym can’t seem to help herself and there is more than one confrontation.
 
I must mention something about the camera work here. Though Declan Quinn’s work is colorful, the hand-held camera jiggles around the room, house, yard, car to such an extent that some people at the screening I attended had to step out for a few minutes. This did not bother me, but be aware of it. The wedding, itself, is a mix of traditional and Eastern with a Sixties flavor including an unusual wedding cake. Zafer Tawil’s music is innovative.
 
Anne Hathaway isn’t the costumed actress here, but a pale woman who is sliding downhill and doesn’t know what to do about it. Her way to fight is to center everything on herself, but doesn’t see how irritating it is to everyone she is near. Rosemarie DeWitt’s Rachel is so patient, you wonder if she is real, but when you see her happiness with Sidney, you know why she is wary of Kym, the spoiler. Debra Winger’s performance as the mother is a revelation. She has a powerful moment with Kym that is so startling, it will make you sit up straight. 
 
All in all, Rachel Getting Married is getting some Oscar buzz for script and Anne Hathaway’s performance, which I think is good, but not that good for a nomination. The cast is believable in this unusual, extended family and the word “wedding at home” takes on new meaning. Rock bands are highlighted here, also, as an extra treat. By titling the film Rachel Getting Married, but having the story center on Kym is pleasantly off-setting, though Kym’s character gets weary after awhile. You want to send her into time out.

Copyright 2008 Marie Asner