Film Review: As Comedy, ‘Table 19’ Only Serves Hor d’Oeuvres

CHICAGO – “Table 19” is an example of a movie that doesn’t try to do too much. It simply takes its little idea and lets it play out, without the forced subplots and desperate stabs of fake urgency so many studio comedies resort to – it’s one part aimless hang out comedy, one part rom-com. It is an amusing-if-forgettable 87 minutes with a group of funny people who get more laughs than they probably should have from such thin material.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

“Table 19” centers on a wedding reception in Michigan. Some of the guests at this reception are seated at that number 19 table, which is next to the bathroom, as far away from the wedding party as you possibly can get, and are the ones with only the most distant of connections to the bride and groom. As the movie itself puts it, this is the table for the people who should have known enough to have replied “no” to the invitation.

There’s the childhood nanny of the bride (June Squibb), a distant cousin (Stephen Merchant) –recently released from prison for crimes unknown – a bickering couple who owns a diner (Craig Robinson and Lisa Kudrow), and the son of a recently deceased family friend (Tony Revoli). They’re joined by the former maid of honor (Anna Kendrick) who was deposed from her spot when the best man and brother of the bride (Wyatt Russell) broke up with her. Each of these characters come complete with their own sets of quirks.

”Table 19” opens everywhere on March 3rd. Featuring Anna Kendrick, Craig Robinson, June Squibb, Lisa Kudrow, Stephen Merchant and Tony Revolori. Screenplay by Jay and Mark Duplass. Directed by Jeffrey Blitz. Rated “PG-13”