‘Four Weddings’ celebrates 25th
Stars reunite for NBC anniversary sequel.
We’re all about the stars of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” coming together 25 years later for a sequel, “One Red Nose Day and a Wedding.”
But first we want answers to our long-burning questions about the original 1994 romantic comedy, which launched the career of Hugh Grant like a cork from an expensive champagne bottle.
We enlisted screenwriter Richard Curtis, who brought Grant, now 58; Andie MacDowell, 61; and the entire band back together for the short film sequel, 25 years later.
The follow-up revolves around the wedding of the couple’s daughter (Lily James), which will air as part of NBC’s “The Red Nose Day Special” (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET/PT), an annual fundraiser for the charity co-founded by Curtis that that helps children living in poverty.
What is the proper protocol when a wedding guest has a heart attack during the proceedings?
In the original film’s third wedding, Gareth (Simon Callow) has a heart attack during the groom’s speech and is pulled swiftly into a side room, where he dies. The speech continues as Gareth’s lover, Matthew (John Hannah), watches with an oblivious smile.
Should someone have yelled out to hold the speeches, there’s a medical situation?
As fate would have it, the incident is based on Curtis’ experiences attending 65 weddings in 11 years, which inspired him to write the screenplay.
“I was actually standing next to a guy at a wedding who had a heart attack, or some kind of incident, and exactly that happened,” Curtis says. The film portrayed this right down to the oblivious groom misunderstanding the commotion, joking about apparent guest rowdiness in the back.
“Everybody laughed about the speech and the guy was discreetly taken out. I don’t think he died,” Curtis recalls. “So I can say that’s a pretty realistic scenario.”
Wedding expert Elaine Swann confirms that this is the best way to handle a wedding medical emergency.
“Unless it’s immediate family, don’t alert the bride and groom, and try to handle the situation quickly and discreetly as possible,” she says.
Why didn’t Charles fall for the divine Fiona?
It’s controversial to question his choice. But Grant’s Charles completely ignores the exquisite Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas) and falls for Carrie (Andie MacDowell). And it’s a travesty – especially after Fiona professes that he’s the love of her life, in the film’s most poignant moment.
Inexplicably, Charles isn’t interested, and pursues Carrie (despite obstacles such as her marrying another man).
Curtis insists that he never envisioned Charles and Fiona coming together when writing the story.
“It’s the old chemistry thing; they just didn’t have it,” Curtis says. “Charles had known Fiona for too long. It’s all those old issues. I always knew he was going to end up with Carrie.”
Thomas, 58, reprises Fiona in the sequel. She’s moved on, but there’s still electricity between her and Charles.
“Things turned out quite happy and well for Fiona,” Curtis says. “And at least she’s not cross with Charles.”
What has taken so long for a sequel, and why now?
“Four Weddings” was such a phenom, taking nearly $250 million in box office worldwide, that there must have been sequel talk at some point. But Curtis says it was never taken seriously.
“I’ve sometimes thought it might be amusing to do ‘Four Funerals and a Wedding’ when I’m 70, but it never got further, really, than a funny title,” he says.
To mark the film’s 25th anniversary, Curtis came up with the sequel concept and recruited the original stars to reprise their roles for film posterity.
Curtis vows this will be the final chapter.
Was Lydia and Bernard’s insane lovemaking scene scripted?
One famed “Four Weddings” scene features Charles hiding in hotel suite as amorous newlyweds Lydia (Sophie Thompson) and Bernard (David Haig) begin extended honeymoon activities loudly.
“I am sure I wrote ‘enthusiastic’ or ‘noisy’ or ‘unnecessarily graphic,’” Curtis says. “And then it was the actors’ interpretation. And they leapt into it.”
In the sequel, Lydia and Bernard are still amorously active, and have seven children to prove it.