CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the streaming series “Emily in Paris” the adventures of Emily Cooper and her fanciful/fashionable Paris friends and lovers, now in its fourth season. Episodes 1-5 currently on Netflix.
Film Review: Irish Friends Go Stag in ‘The Bachelor Weekend’
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CHICAGO – What truths are contained in the male ritual of the bachelor party? Alcohol/substance consumption sure, maybe discomfort at being yourself, or perhaps a bit of accidental emotion? All is realized in the Irish comedy “The Bachelor Weekend,” brought to life by six members of the pre-wedding team, off on a stag weekend.
![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
Fresh off its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last month, the film is co-written by director John Butler and one of the lead actors, Peter McDonald, and adopts a theme of “what has happened to men?” Practically forced to go on a camping trip by the bride, the six buddies eschew their ritualistic smartphone lives and rough it as fellow travelers, anchored by the loose cannon in the group, The Machine. This works as a bit of an Irish “Big Chill,” with similar emotional bonds and dramatic transitions occurring over one event-filled weekend. There are recognizable personalities in the stag party group, and enough emotional ties to warm up the proceedings.
Fionnan (Hugh O’Conor) seems to be a bit too detailed in regard to his wedding plans with Ruth (Amy Huberman), and the bride desperately begs the best man Davin (Andrew Scott) to take the metrosexual man on a rugged camping trip as a bachelor weekend. Davin gathers mutual friends Simon (Brian Gleeson) and the two Kevins (Michael Legge and Andrew Bennett). Little Kevin is Fionnan’s brother, Big Kevin (“I’m not that big.”) is the first Kevin’s lover.
A wrench is thrown into the plans when Ruth insists that the gang include her brother (Peter McDonald), nicknamed “The Machine.” His reputation as a blunt, hard partying guy goes against the sensibilities of the rest of the group, and Davin does his best to put him off. It takes a phone call from Ruth to tip off The Machine as to where the bachelor trip will be starting from, and the stag weekend is on with now six hiking companions.
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![Andrew Scott, Peter McDonald Andrew Scott, Peter McDonald](http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/sites/default/files/Bachelor1.jpg)
Davin (Andrew Scott) and The Machine (Peter McDonald) Illustrate the Hijinks in ‘The Bachelor Weekend’
Photo credit: Tribeca Film
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