Full Review

In 1995, writer-director-actor Edward Burns burst onto the independent film scene with “The Brothers McMullen,” made on a shoestring budget about young men with blue-collar sensibilities mulling over love, relationships and responsibility while drinking lots of beers. Eleven years later, Burns ploughs similar thematic waters in “The Groomsmen” an intermittently engaging drama which could have been called “The Slightly Older McMullen Boys.”

Eleven years and seven movies later, Burns plumbs similar thematic waters in "The Groomsmen" (Bauer-Martinez), an intermittently engaging drama that could have been called "The Slightly Older Brothers McMullen."

Like many Burns' films, the story is set in a working-class, Irish-Catholic neighborhood in New York.

Burns plays Paulie, a writer wrestling with anxiety over his impending marriage to pregnant girlfriend Sue (Brittany Murphy) and parenthood. Each of his close-knit groomsmen has issues as well: Bitter big brother Jimbo (Donal Logue) can't hold a job and his emotional disengagement is straining his marriage to Julianna (Heather Burns); cousin Mike (Jay Mohr) is still in love with ex-girlfriend Jen (Jessica Capshaw); childhood friend T.C. (John Leguizamo), missing in action for eight years, returns with a bombshell secret.

Rounding out the amigos is garage-band rocker turned dad Dez (Matthew Lillard) who, though hardly the picture of maturity, is the most sensible one of the lot, steadying Paulie's resolve by acknowledging the joy of being a father.

Watching their adolescent antics, one wonders just what exactly Paulie is so grudging about giving up? Also, are we supposed to feel sorry for him that his priorities are off and that he would rather hang out at the pub with his buddies than tend to his pregnant fiancee at home?

Burns does a good job at eliciting fine performances and creating believable bonds between the friends, and the movie -- with its shades of Barry Levinson's "Diner" -- has moments of honest emotion. But the talky script lacks focus and much of the banter is banal.

Given the milieu, there are obviously some Catholic references, though on that count the film seems to send mixed signals. In one scene the guys recount a traumatic grammar school incident involving a sadistic nun, followed shortly thereafter by one in which they reverently recite the "Our Father" before a softball game.

Despite the friends' reluctance to kiss their carefree days goodbye, "The Groomsmen" is, at its heart, an affirmation of family, friendship and responsibility that, in imparting a message about growing up, seems to echo what St. Paul says about putting away "childish things."

Burns is a talented filmmaker, and it would be interesting to see him try something new. Perhaps for Burns, as for lovesick Mike in the movie, it's time to move on.

The film contains pervasive rough and crude language, some profanity, an uncritical view of homosexuality, tacit approval of premarital sex, several vulgar gestures, fleeting rear nudity, a scene in a strip club, and a crass scene of urination. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

• A-I -- general patronage;
• A-II -- adults and adolescents;
• A-III -- adults;
• A-IV**
• L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
• O -- morally offensive.