Helena From The Wedding (2010)

50% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
24% of users liked it
(3,325 ratings)

In this nuanced and comedic portrait of marriage, newlyweds Alex (Lee Tergesen) and Alice (Melanie Lynskey) host a New Year's Eve party for their closest friends at their remote cabin in the mountains. However, when Alice's friend brings along a surprise guest-the very young and beautiful Helena… More In this nuanced and comedic portrait of marriage, newlyweds Alex (Lee Tergesen) and Alice (Melanie Lynskey) host a New Year's Eve party for their closest friends at their remote cabin in the mountains. However, when Alice's friend brings along a surprise guest-the very young and beautiful Helena (Gillian Jacobs)-the group's facades begin to crumble. -- (C) Film Movement

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Joseph Infantolino
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Nov 12, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Mar 8, 2011
Studio: Film Movement

Critic Reviews

Jon Frosch, Hollywood Reporter
Helena From the Wedding is written, directed, and played with such verve and deep, unshowy feeling that its insights on these tried-and-true themes come through with rare and startling clarity.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Among its achievements is the kind of comfortable, shaded acting we expect from seasoned professionals and a script (by the director, Joseph Infantolino) that almost scarily captures the cadences of whining white privilege.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
None of its characters is especially interesting.
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
The group is frequently drunk, but writer-director Joseph Infantolino's handling is lucid, a necessity to keep up the sense of vague dread and walking-on-eggshell egos.
Dennis Harvey, Variety
This is the kind of single-location indie talkfest that could translate to the stage without much tweaking. But pacing is brisk, and perfs and writing sharp enough to engage throughout.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...distractingly low-rent...
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
The picture ultimately doesn't end up anywhere, but moments are accounted for nicely, creating a warm bath of razors for those who prefer their onscreen relationships to be as hesitant as possible.
Ethan Alter, NYC Film Critic
The cast handles the material adequately enough, but writer/director Joseph Infantolino doesn't provide them with anything they (and we) haven't seen played out before.
Glenn Heath Jr., Slant Magazine
Marriage is hell. Matrimony is rife with mistrust, misdeeds, and misconceptions. But you know what's worse? Being single. We get it.
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
Too unassuming for its own good.