Film

The Wedding Ringer

Name: The Wedding Ringer
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2015
Cast: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco, Affion Crockett, Olivia Thirlby

Buddy comedy
Light-hearted

A groom with no friends hires an actor to be his best man two weeks before the wedding. It's a broad comedy built on the fish-out-of-water premise of a slick con artist pretending to have a deep history with a genuinely lonely guy. Warm-hearted beneath the pratfalls, aimed squarely at anyone who's felt like an outsider or whose wedding party is a problem they're trying to solve.

TMDb rating

3.3

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like broad, sweet-natured comedy where two mismatched men slowly become real friends while a ridiculous scheme spirals, and you enjoy Kevin Hart's fast-talking energy paired against a more fumbling straight man.

Skip it if you want sharp, edgy humour or a story that stays grounded; this leans on silly set-pieces and familiar rom-com beats, and its warmth can feel sugary if you prefer cynicism.

What it asks of you: Roughly an hour and forty minutes of easygoing, mostly light viewing; you will not need to track complicated plotting, just be willing to go along with an outlandish premise.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

I Love You, Man2009

A similarly structured bromance about a groom without groomsmen, but with Paul Rudd's charm and genuine emotional stakes. The friendship feels earned, not just transactional.

But Slower paced than The Wedding Ringer, and the humour is gentler—if you want constant gags, this will feel slight.

The Hangover2009

Wedding chaos comedy that actually lands the big laughs. Tighter script, perfect ensemble chemistry, and set pieces that genuinely surprise. Still heartfelt about friendship underneath.

But The tone is wilder and meaner. Doesn't have The Wedding Ringer's earnestness about loneliness and connection.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall2008

Judd Apatow comedy with a real heart. Funny enough to carry you, but also genuinely invested in its characters' pain. Jason Segel is funny *and* vulnerable—the whole thing works.

But More melancholic than comedic in places. If you want consistent laughs, the emotional beats might slow you down.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Wedding Ringer

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Superbad2007

Both centre on a character terrified of being alone, using comedy to mask genuine social anxiety and the desperate hunger for connection.

On the surface just a raunchy teen comedy, but it's actually about loneliness and the terror of not fitting in. The friendship between the two leads is real—you believe they'd move heaven and earth for each other. That emotional core is what The Wedding Ringer is really after, just with a different age group.

But Genuinely crude in ways The Wedding Ringer isn't. If broad sex jokes and profanity bother you, this will feel abrasive rather than funny.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2012

Ensemble comedy about misfits finding community and purpose. Warm, funny, and unexpectedly moving. Great cast having real fun together.

But Aimed at an older demographic and paced accordingly. Genteel rather than raucous; if you want edge, look elsewhere.

Old School2003

Will Ferrell comedy that's ridiculous but structured around a real theme of feeling left behind. Stupid in the best way, but surprisingly sincere when it matters.

But Will Ferrell's particular brand of comedic commitment isn't for everyone. Some will find it hilarious; others exhausting.

Bridesmaids2011

Wedding comedy with teeth. Funny in ways that feel specific and earned, ensemble cast is terrific, and the emotional core about female friendship actually lands.

But Darker and crueller than The Wedding Ringer. If you want warmth and optimism, this might feel unnecessarily harsh.

Liar Liar1997

Jim Carrey comedy about a guy who can't lie and has to be honest about what matters. Feels silly but has surprising depth about family and priorities underneath.

But Peak-90s production values and a very specific comedic style. The energy might feel dated or manic depending on your mood.

The Internship2013

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as underdogs trying to fit into a world that doesn't immediately accept them. Goofy and sincere in equal measure, with a real ensemble.

But Google itself is basically the co-star, which reads as extended product placement. The plot is thin even by comedy standards.

Central Intelligence2016

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart on-screen chemistry. Buddy comedy structured around reconnection and unlikely friendship. Fun action-comedy hybrid with genuine warmth.

But The plot is formulaic and the action sequences feel obligatory. Doesn't quite know if it wants to be funny or thrilling.

Tokyo Godfathers2003

Both are ultimately about the people we choose as family when blood relatives aren't available, and how that bond becomes more real than circumstance.

An anime film about three homeless people brought together by circumstance, forced to trust each other and found a makeshift family. It's funny and warm and surprisingly moving. Genre and medium completely different, but the emotional engine—strangers becoming essential to each other—is identical.

But Animated, subtitled, and deals with homelessness and grief. That's a very different register from The Wedding Ringer's surface-level comedy.

Adam's Rib1949

Like The Wedding Ringer, it understands that the best comedy comes from two people who get each other and enjoy performing for each other—the rapport matters more than the gags.

A 1949 screwball comedy about a married couple who becomes opposing lawyers. Witty, charming, and genuinely sophisticated. The back-and-forth between Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn feels like watching people who actually understand each other spar for fun. It's what good chemistry looks like.

But Black and white, 1940s pacing, and the gender politics are dated. If you want contemporary sensibility or fast edits, this will feel slow.