Betsy’s Wedding **** (1990, Alan Alda, Molly Ringwald, Joey Bishop) – Classic Movie Review 9916

The sweet 1990 comedy Betsy’s Wedding is a tour-de-force for Alan Alda.

Alda writes, directs and stars in this warm and funny comedy about a man who will do anything to give his kooky daughter Betsy (Molly Ringwald) the fantastic big wedding to the very different Jake (Dylan Walsh) that she doesn’t want and that he can’t afford.

Lovely performances from an inspired ensemble cast – particularly Madeline Kahn as the quirky wife and Joe Pesci as the shady brother-in-law – raise the level of the genial screenplay and bring out the full flavour of the humour.

Also in the cast are Joey Bishop, Anthony LaPaglia, Catherine O’Hara, Ally Sheedy and Burt Young, Julie Bovasso, Nicolas Coster, Bibi Besch, Camille Saviola and Allan Rich.

Betsy’s Wedding is directed by Alan Alda, runs 96 minutes, is made by Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV and Martin Bregman Productions, is released by Buena Vista Pictures (1990) (US) and Warner Bros. (1990) (UK), is written by Alan Alda, is shot in Technicolor by Kelvin Pike, is produced by Martin Bregman and Louis A Stroller, is scored by Bruce Broughton, and designed by John Jay Moore.

Ringwald and Sheedy were both in The Breakfast Club (1985).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9916

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