Why this 1997 romantic comedy subverted expectations by letting its protagonist lose

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In a genre defined by happy endings, My Best Friend's Wedding dared to be different. When Julianne Potter realizes she loves her best friend just days before his wedding, she launches a chaotic sabotage campaign. The result is a refreshing, subversive classic that remains a high-water mark for 1990s cinema.

Directed by P. J. Hogan and written by Ronald Bass, the 1997 film follows Julianne 'Jules' Potter, a 27-year-old food critic who decides to break up her lifelong friend Michael O'Neal and his fiancée, Kimmy Wallace. The plot hinges on a pact the two made years earlier: if both were unmarried by age 28, they would marry each other. With Michael set to wed the younger Kimmy in four days, Jules descends on Chicago to manipulate the couple, even enlisting her gay editor, George Downes, to pose as her fiancé.

What separates the film from standard romantic comedies is its refusal to reward the protagonist's destructive behavior. Critics have long praised the film for its subversive take on established formulas. While Jules attempts to humiliate Kimmy and even forges an email to sabotage Michael's career, the film ultimately forces her to confront her own selfishness. The iconic scene where George leads a restaurant sing-along of 'I Say a Little Prayer' serves as a moment of genuine comic brilliance, momentarily shifting the film from a star vehicle into something more daring.

The film was a massive commercial success, earning over $299 million worldwide and cementing Julia Roberts' status as a box-office powerhouse. Its legacy has endured through international remakes in China and Mexico, as well as a 2024 stage musical adaptation. Despite mixed reviews from some critics at the time, it holds a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is frequently cited as one of the best romantic comedies of the decade. With a sequel now in early development, the story of Jules and Michael continues to resonate as a rare, honest look at the messy reality of unrequited love.

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