MovieChat Forums > Muriel's Wedding (1995) Discussion > I'm not sure how to feel about this movi...

I'm not sure how to feel about this movie.

posted 12 years ago by budarc
6 replies | jump to latest

It's depressing. From what I understand, it's about unrealized dreams. Muriel is an outsider who longs to be accepted. Her only dream is to get married. In order to separate the ties that bind her and begin her life as a "new" person, she steals from her family and moves out of her hometown. Then she makes a friend who turns out to have cancer and, tragically, becomes paraplegic. Muriel eventually achieves her dream of getting married by finding herself in an arranged marriage, but even this is just a compromise because there is absolutely no love between them (did anyone else get the impression that David was gay?). Then Muriel's mother dies, seemingly after an embarrassingly painful shoplifting incident at the store, which forces Muriel to rethink her mortality and get her priorities in order. She then goes back and "rescues" her friend. But unless the two become lesbian lovers at the end, this is not a happy ending. Muriel never achieved anything. She did get her "wedding" out of the way, but she still hasn't truly found happiness, or really any purpose. Where does she go from there?

I think the movie's good on a lot of levels (the acting), and I'm completely aware this is not a "feel good" comedy, but it's actually just an incredibly depressing drama in disguise. Like I mentioned, I'm not sure how to feel.

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 12 years ago

I don't see it as depressing as you. It was about Muriel finding herself. At the beginning, she was an outsider who only wanted a wedding. When she got it, she realized that it was not what she wanted, and it was SHE who was able to take the step to end that sham of a marriage. At the end, she has gotten back with a friend who accepts her as she is (contrast this with trying in vain to fit in with those superficial jerks), she has stood up to her father's verbal abuse showing her growing self-esteem, and she is heading back to Sydney with a friend to live an independent life on her terms. That IS happiness and purpose.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

[–] HeywoodJablomy 12 years ago

But unless the two become lesbian lovers at the end, this is not a happy ending. Muriel never achieved anything. She did get her "wedding" out of the way, but she still hasn't truly found happiness, or really any purpose.

This sounds as if you think there's no happy ending because Muriel doesn't have a man in her life.

True, it isn't a fairytale "Hollywood ending", but I found it very uplifting. Muriel starts out as a bullied, insecure, completely selfish girl, stealing from her family, dreaming of the wedding that will make her a "somebody", abandoning her friend in need, etc. By the end she has transformed into a confident young woman who won't be bullied. She gives up her fantasies and embarks with her friend to live in the real world.

[–] budarc 12 years ago

I can see what you're saying and you're probably right. I didn't necessarily mean she had to have a man in her life, but what she seemed to be missing and yearning for the whole time (the wedding was only a front) was an actual loving relationship. But that was actually just me stepping in and trying to identify myself with the character. And hey, maybe they do eventually become lesbian lovers and have their "Hollywood" ending, who knows.

[–] mgulev 10 years ago

What makes this film great is that it doesn´t need a Hollywood ending, where Muriel finds a lover (male or female). She has found herself!
When she and Rhonda leave for the taxi at the end, one of the "popular" girls yells "I´m married, I´m beautiful!" and Muriel and Rhonda just laugh at her. She really hasn´t realized what life is about. She may have the Hollywood ending, but she isn´t happy.

[–] riverwalk 10 years ago

''This sounds as if you think there's no happy ending because Muriel doesn't have a man in her life.

True, it isn't a fairytale "Hollywood ending", but I found it very uplifting.''

yep i think alot of people who don't like this movie or complain about it are simply disappointed that it didn't live up to the Hollywood cliche endings that audiences conditioned too. It also is a very sad reflection on our society that people think you have to end up with a partner to be happy-believe me that isn't true. Relationships don't guarantee happiness, many people enter them for the wrong reasons and spend their lives truly unhappy with a partner they don't love. Miriam found her own happiness in the end yet it amazes me how that still isn't enough for so many people.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]