My Best Friend's Wedding

| 1997

Directed by: P.J. Hogan

Main Plot

My Best Friend's Wedding follows the story of Julianne, a successful food critic who realizes she is in love with her best friend, Michael, just days before his wedding to another woman, Kimberly. As she grapples with her feelings, Julianne decides to sabotage the wedding in an attempt to win Michael back. She enlists the help of her gay friend, George, to help her navigate the situation. Throughout the wedding festivities, Julianne struggles with her emotions and the realization of what true love means. As she tries to disrupt the impending marriage, she faces various comedic and heartfelt challenges, ultimately leading her to confront her own feelings and the consequences of her actions. The film explores themes of friendship, love, and the complexities of relationships against the backdrop of a wedding celebration.

Characters

  • Julia Roberts plays Julianne Potter, a food critic who realizes she's in love with her best friend and tries to sabotage his wedding to win him back.
  • Dermot Mulroney plays Michael O'Neal, the best friend and love interest of Julianne, who is getting married, prompting her to realize her true feelings and attempt to sabotage the wedding.
  • Cameron Diaz plays Kimberly Wallace, the sweet and naive fiancée of Michael, whose impending wedding prompts Julianne to realize her true feelings for him.

Ending Explained

In the ending of My Best Friend's Wedding, the main conflict revolves around the protagonist, who realizes her true feelings for her best friend, Julianne, just as he is about to marry someone else, Kim. After a series of attempts to sabotage the wedding and confess her love, Julianne ultimately comes to terms with the reality of the situation. During the wedding ceremony, she stands up and delivers a heartfelt speech, but instead of declaring her love, she acknowledges that Julianne deserves happiness and that she cannot disrupt their union. As the ceremony unfolds, Julianne experiences a moment of clarity, recognizing that her actions were driven by fear of losing Julian. In a poignant moment, she embraces the bittersweet nature of love and friendship, ultimately choosing to support Julian and Kim's happiness rather than pursue her own desires. The film concludes with Julianne accepting her role as a friend rather than a romantic partner, symbolizing personal growth and the complexities of love. The narrative resolves by highlighting the importance of selflessness and the understanding that true love sometimes means letting go, reinforcing the theme that love can take many forms beyond romance.

P.J. Hogan Comedy Drama Romance Julia Roberts Dermot Mulroney Cameron Diaz