Review: Table 19

Can a much of misfit Celebrities make a good movie?

“Table 19” is a film about the misadventures of a table of apparent misfits at a wedding that no one, including themselves, really thinks they should have attended. Through this ragtag group of guests, we are supposed to witness some of the worst, most painful, and most painfully awkward possible situations a group of seemingly unwanted, unmemorable, or inconsequential wedding guests can experience.

With a corny but possibly interesting plotline accompanied by a quality and comedic cast, lead by the very talented Anna Kendrick and featuring Lisa Kudrow, Craig Robinson, June Squibb, Tony Revolori, Stephen Merchant, and Wyatt Russell, the film had the potential to be very and- to some (me!)- surprisingly entertaining. Unfortunately the attempted rom-com or dramedy suffers from trying too hard to go deeper than it’s length and writing allows. The main plot gets just as lost and confused as its outcast wedding guests amongst the too-numerous-to-really-flesh-out subplots. And the potentially surprising and story invigorating mid and ending twists are too phoned in to really carry their attempted weight. It’s like someone made a list of a bunch of possible dramatic situations for these characters- each of which (situations and characters) could have actually been interesting and/or moving if given the appropriate time and attention- but, instead of seeing which could be truly and organically explored, decided to just throw them all in and hope to get by on the comedic effect. It doesn’t. It doesn’t flow easily, comfortably, or believably and though there are some amusing situations and funny jokes scattered throughout, it’s not at all enough to carry the film.

With it’s talented, far better script and role deserving cast, “Table 19” is an opportunity film that fails to be better than, or even really true to, it’s tagline (Renzo is the only real misfit, but the cliche adolescent one). A somewhat attempted adult/wedding version of “The Breakfast Club”, it’s overdone layering and lack of sensible, believable, or at all organic situations dragged along by awful (and again inorganic) pacing and transitions, keep what should have been, at the very least, a humorously relatable experience from ever gaining any solid ground.

2 out of 5

What would I have changed? (Spoilers)

Click here to read what I would Change

Complete overhaul of plot/subplots and character development.

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Liz (Contributor) is an ardent cinephile from West Philadelphia. She enjoys all genres and generations of cinema and has a particular love for independent and foreign films