Coming out on January 9, 2009, Bride Wars is a romantic comedy film directed by 13 Going on 30’s Gary Winick, and written by SNL’s Casey Wilson and Greg DePaul. Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway star as the titular brides in a movie about the worst kind of conflict, one centered on two brides-to-be that have planned their perfect day since they were little girls. The two brides, who are slated to be each others’ maids-of-honor in their perfect wedding ceremonies, discover that they have planned their weddings for the same exact day, and when neither can move the day of the wedding, war erupts. The two brides go from best friends to rivals as each tries to outdo the other on their happy day. Billed as “Mean Girls for Women,” Bride Wars is slated to be a film about a good old-fashioned best friend rivalry as the two happy brides go head-to-head in an attempt to have the more elaborate, popular, and memorable wedding ceremony.

Liv, played by Kate Hudson, and Emma, played by Anne Hathaway, are best friends. Like many little girls, the two best friends played “Here Comes the Bride” in their attics as little girls, planning every aspect of their glorious wedding, right down to the colors of the flowers. Even as little girls, the two knew that, without a doubt, their weddings would be held at New York’s ultimate bridal destination, the Plaza Hotel. No other venue would do for the elaborate ceremony that the girls planned. Fast forward to age 26: both women are about to get married, realizing the dreams that they have held so dear since they were little girls. Finally, after years and years of waiting, Liv and Emma get to invite their whole family to the ceremony that they have been dreaming about for all of their lives, the wedding that marks the beginning of happily-ever-after. Of course, it will not be that easy. A minor clerical error turns out to be the most major error of either of the two women’s lives as both of their weddings become planned for the same exact day. Learning about this error turns two bright, reasonable best friends completely against each other in an explosive revelation that almost completely dissolves whatever best friendship they may have had before.

Liv is a successful lawyer that is completely used to getting what she wants. She has the perfect job and she found the perfect man, and the only thing left for her to have is the perfect wedding. Her best friend, Emma, is a schoolteacher who has always been gifted with a sense of compassion and kindheartedness. While Emma is very good about caring for others and making sure that they get exactly what they want, she is not very good about taking care of herself. For that reason, it is not quite in her nature to contest Liv’s designs on having the wedding at the Plaza Hotel, or at least that is how it seems. Sure enough, the outrageous situation brings out the inner beast in Liv, fueling a frightening desire to get exactly what she wants when she thinks her wedding day is at stake. What starts as a relatively reasonable conflict escalates into a no-holds barred wedding fiasco that tests a best friendship through what becomes an all-out war.

Director Gary Winick is known for directing “13 Going on 30”, and the live-action, computer-animated feature film “Charlotte’s Web” based on the book of the same name by E.B. White. Before embarking on his film career, Winick taught at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for seven years. In 1999, Winick teamed up with John Sloss and IFC Productions to create Independent Digital Entertainment to produce digital video feature films for theatrical release. Winick produced “Final,” directed by Campbell Scott, “Chelsea Walls,” directed by Ethan Hawke, “Tape,” directed by Richard Linklater, “Women in Film,” directed by Bruce Wagner, and a variety of other notable film projects. Screenwriter Casey Wilson joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in the 07-08 season, while the other screenwrite, June Raphael, has closely worked with Wilson and other comedians in producing a variety of women’s sketch comedy shows.

Kate Hudson’s breakout role came in 2000 when she played “band aid” Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe’s much acclaimed film “Almost Famous”. Winning a Golden Globe Award and becoming nominated for an Oscar, a Screen Actor’s Guild Award, and a BAFTA award for her work in the film, Kate Hudson was propelled to fame, winning many honors from critical groups around the country and elevating her to near household name status. Subsequent roles in Robert Altman’s “Dr. T and the Women,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” Rob Reiner’s “Alex and Emma,” and Merchant-Ivory’s contemporary comedy “Le Divorce,” among several other successful movies, have cemented Kate Hudson’s status as one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood today. In Bride Wars, Kate Hudson plays smart, successful Liv, as well as producing the film.

Anne Hathway’s rise to fame began with the 2006 film “The Devil Wears Prada,” acting opposite Meryl Streep in the critically-acclaimed blockbuster. She also recently received much critical acclaim for her work in the challenging role of Kym in “Rachel Getting Married,” directed by Jonathan Demme. This year, she has starred opposite Steve Carrell in “Get Smart,” as well as in Rodrigo Garcia’s “Passengers” with Patrick Wilson. Among other successful film credits, Hathaway has lent much of her time to community service across the world, contributing to Angelina Jolie’s documentary “A Moment in the World” about Cambodia, as well as to the Step Up Women’s Network, a group that increases the amount of community resources available to women and girls. She is also a member of the advisory board for Lollipop Theater Network, which screens movies in hospitals for pediatric patients suffering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Hathaway has contributed to this organization on a variety of levels. Since 2000, Hathaway has maintained a strong presence in Hollywood, and she brings a great amount of experience to the role of Emma, the schoolteacher.

Other members of the cast include Candice Bergen of Murphy Brown fame, Chris Pratt of Everwood fame, Bryan Greenberg of One Tree Hill and October Road, Steve Howey of Reba, and Kristen Johnson from 3rd Rock from the Sun. Writers June Raphael and Casey DePaul completed the shooting script for the film before the 2007-2008 Writer’s Guild of America strike began. Some of the principal photography for the film took place at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, while the rest of the film has been mainly filmed in Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, and the city of Salem, Massachusetts. Bride Wars will be released in theaters on January 9, 2009, and it promises to be an entertaining romp through the frightening territory of the Bridezilla. Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway play two brides who will do anything to make sure that their wedding is the best wedding possible, even if it comes at the expense of their former best friend’s happy day. The two talented actresses will bring their massive talents to Winick’s film to make a movie experience that every bride-to-be can enjoy.