--- title: "Four Weddings and a Funeral: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/four-weddings-and-a-funeral/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/four-weddings-and-a-funeral" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 9 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics greet Four Weddings and a Funeral as a funny, warmly engaging comedy, with praise clustering around Hugh Grant’s awkward charm and comic timing. The ensemble gives the friendships substance, while Richard Curtis’s script and Mike Newell’s direction earn credit for wit, pace and assured handling of the ceremonial structure. Several reviews also find emotional honesty beneath the social embarrassment, particularly in the funeral scene. Reservations concern the privileged social setting, familiar romantic conventions and Andie MacDowell’s performance alongside a more persuasive supporting cast. The spread is wide despite the strongly positive lean. Sight and Sound rejects the romance as lazy and finds no chemistry between the leads, though it singles out Kristin Scott Thomas for praise. The Hollywood Reporter objects more sharply to the characters’ unkindness, finding the central pair unsympathetic and the comedy soured by their behaviour. ## Radio Times Rating 5/5. Extremely funny, charming and poignant with a superb screenplay and deft direction. Standout performances make it hugely enjoyable and a game-changer for British comedy. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-431189/four-weddings-and-a-funeral/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 18 March 1994. The film is a delightful and sly comedy about an extended group of friends whose lives revolve around attending weddings and one funeral. It forms a community that envelops the viewer through subtle character introductions and strong ensemble performances, especially Hugh Grant's endearing awkwardness. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/four-weddings-and-a-funeral-1994) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 March 1994. This deft English comedy is elegant, festive and very, very funny, a remarkable tightrope act that confines its central love story to the events in the title. It features Hugh Grant in a career-making role as a suave yet hapless best man. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/09/movies/reviews-film-four-weddings-funeral-special-occasions-urges-that-lurk-within.html) ## Empire — Phil Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film proves there is no substitute for professionalism and a first-rate script, emerging as possibly the most 'British' modern film committed to celluloid. It is funny, agreeably sweet and exceptionally well acted and directed, with Hugh Grant a charming revelation despite some sops to the US market and clichés. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/four-weddings-funeral-review/) ## The Guardian — Derek Malcolm Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 1994. The critic calls the film a highly expert and entertaining comedy of middle-class manners that is full of irony and shrewdness, and one of the least embalmed contemporary comedies around. He praises Hugh Grant's marvellous performance and the near-perfect casting overall, along with director Mike Newell's pace and verve, while noting that Andie MacDowell's performance does not quite match the rest of the cast. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,530826,00.html) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). A classy, commercial and very funny British comedy with smooth direction and emotional honesty, especially in the funeral scene. Genuine feel-good entertainment despite conventional attitudes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/four-weddings-and-a-funeral) ## The Independent — Sheila Johnston Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 1994. The film is a diverting, crowd-pleasing romantic comedy that makes a virtue of its simple shooting style and focus on ceremonial occasions. It praises Hugh Grant's impeccable comic timing while noting the privileged, upper-middle-class characters and lightweight nature, but highlights fine touches that make it celebratory overall. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-reviews-something-old-something-new-sheila-johnston-on-four-weddings-and-a-funeral-the-britcom-that-had-america-rolling-down-the-aisles-plus-roundup-1435647.html) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 1 June 1994. The critic finds the film a smarmy fable about true love with lazy romanticism and no chemistry between leads. Supporting cast, especially Kristin Scott Thomas, fares better, but overall the comedy falls flat. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/features/ultimatefilm/chart/details.php?ranking=75) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge 20 January 1994. Festival review. The romantic comedy is layered with an inner unkindness and coated with snide incivility that saps its merriment, though it may win mixed applause from select audiences. The lead romantic characters are not sympathetic, with the male lead in particular described as unredeemably callous. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/four-weddings-and-a-funeral-1994-sundance-review-1235780513/) ## Eye for Film — Josh Morrall Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2005. The critic calls the film a masterpiece and modern classic that launched careers and set the bar for British rom-coms. They praise the witty script by Richard Curtis, Mike Newell's direction, and the engaging ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Kristin Scott Thomas, and others for their memorable performances. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/four-weddings-and-a-funeral-film-review-by-josh-morrall) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/four-weddings-and-a-funeral.md