Margot at the Wedding (2007)

Noah Baumbach’s Margot at the Wedding (2007) may not have the overt humor of The Wedding Singer (1998) or Wedding Crashers (2005) but it’s quietly hilarious. The action kicks in when Margot (Nicole Kidman), a tart-tongued, trouble-stirring short story scribbler and her 11-year-old son (Zane Pais) visit her sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) on the weekend of her wedding. But if you think Margot arrived to support her sis, think again. For starters, she doesn’t care for Pauline’s fiancé, slacker musician Malcolm (Jack Black). And instead of helping her with the nuptial plans, Margot heads off to take care of some business of her own. She gives a bizarre speech at a local bookstore when interviewed by her married lover Dick Koosman (Ciarán Hinds). Yes, Margot arrived with a lot of baggage — and we’re not just referring to her suitcase! But, at least, she struts her stuff in sexy swimwear as does Dick’s teenaged daughter Maisy (Halley Feiffer) who Malcolm secretly kisses. That’s bad, but watching Ms. Kidman masturbate in bed is good. In addition to that arousing scene, the film includes polaroid shots of JJL’s Ts! Perhaps that’s why Ms. Leigh and Mr. Baumbach were named Best Actress and Best Director, respectively, at the Peñíscola Comedy Film Fest. As the big day approaches, things get increasingly complicated within the family and with the creepy neighbors. Eventually, Margot finds herself up a tree — literally! Luckily one thing does go right: Jennifer bares both of jigglin’ Jasons, Leigh-ving Mr. Skin grinning!