Wedding Crashers came to fans in the mid-2000s amid the success of movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but before the onslaught of improv-based comedies like Superbad took over the box office in the late 2000s. The film was a success upon its release, and Wedding Crashers is the highest-grossing movie of the year it came out.
As such, the film has developed a large following. Rumors of a sequel sometimes come to the surface, but none has been released. As fans look back to the movie years later, they perhaps wonder about the interesting details on how it came to be.
It Was Shot On Location
Many moviegoers might say the backdrop of Wedding Crashers plays a large part in its charm. The movie was shot in several different locations in and around Maryland.
The people behind the film told Variety that the exteriors of the movie were shot in 7 different parts of the area. However, interiors were shot in L.A. creating difficult tasks for set production who had to make sure details of houses matched in corresponding shots.
The Director Worked With Owen Wilson And Vince Vaughn Before
Wedding Crashers comes from director David Dobkin. He gave audiences his first feature in the late 1990s with Clay Pidgeons, a comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix, Janeane Garofalo, and Vince Vaughn.
His next movie would be Shanghai Knights, starring Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan. The combination of Wilson and Vaughn proved to be a hit, and Wedding Crashers remains one of Owen Wilson’s highest-rated movies. The duo would later come together to star in The Internship.
The Purple Hearts Were Controversial
Fans of the movie perhaps remember some of its opening scenes, when Wilson’s John Beckwith and Vaughn’s Jeremy Grey discuss their schemes for an upcoming wedding. A pair of fake purple hearts are introduced as the two get excited for a night of free drinks and well-wishes.
During the year of the film’s release, Today reported about veterans’ distaste with the gag, causing the producers to pull a promotion featuring fake purple hearts from the movie’s website. Today, if any crashers were to imitate John and Jeremy’s actions, they’d be committing a federal crime.
Conor Oberst Inspired Keir O’Donnell’s Character
Rachel McAdams plays Claire Cleary, John’s love interest. Throughout the movie, many family members are introduced, like her father U.S. Secretary William Cleary, and her mother Kathleen Cleary. Audiences are also introduced to Keir O’Donnell’s character, Todd Cleary.
Todd is an artistic recluse, donning dark clothes and an angsty attitude. He was inspired by Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst for the character. Oberst is known for his emotional and melancholy songwriting. Fans of his music might say his popularity had breached into the mainstream during the time of the movie’s release.
Will Ferrell Is Uncredited
Throughout Wedding Crashers, audiences hear tidbits here and there about a legendary wedding crasher, Chazz Reinhold. After Jeremy and John have a falling out, John seeks out the man in search of answers in his increasingly confusing life path. Soon, Chazz is revealed, played by Will Ferrell.
To Ferrell fans, the moment is one of the most memorable in the film. However, viewers might be surprised to know that the celebrated comedian isn’t credited for his performance that many would call more than a cameo. Some call his appearance in Wedding Crashers one of the best uncredited performances in a movie.
John McCain Makes A Cameo
As Jeremy and John enter the Cleary wedding, they see guests line up. This sequence establishes John’s attraction to Claire when he catches her eye as she greets attendees. Observant fans perhaps have noted one of the film’s most eyebrow-raising cameos that happens during these moments.
Former U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain makes a quick appearance before the wedding. He can be seen shaking hands with Christopher Walken’s William Cleary, who is meant to be a U.S. Secretary in the film.
Jane Seymour Went Nude For The First Time
Jane Seymour plays Kathleen Cleary, Claire’s mom. She is one of the more likable characters in Wedding Crashers. Viewers see her make a pass at John on the dancefloor during the Cleary wedding. Later on, the two share an awkward moment when she comes on to him during the family’s weekend stay at their compound.
The actress has appeared in features since the late 1960s, and she never did a nude scene until Wedding Crashers. In MEL Magazine, Seymour said the shoot was awkward and hilarious. Owen Wilson felt uncomfortable touching Seymour in the scene, and director David Dobkin had to step in a few times to make him loosen up.
A Producer On The Film Crashed Weddings In His Youth
Fans might say Wedding Crashers has several funny characters, beautiful scenery, and a heartwarming story. However, the movie comes down to its concept, from which all of its events unfold. Viewers would be perhaps surprised to know the plot is based on true events.
Variety reports that producer Andrew Panay came up with the idea of the movie after having crashed a wedding in his youth. Perhaps he didn’t spend the weekend with a family keeping up deceit to win a woman’s heart, but he had the experience that birthed characters like John and Jeremy, and the rest is history.
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