If you’re in the mood for a movie night, what about one you can watch again and again—like My Best Friend’s Wedding? Celebrate the summer with Xfinity Rewards! We've been thanking customers with movies on us every week in July, and from July 19th-25th, Xfinity Rewards members of all tiers can snag My Best Friend’s Wedding—it’s yours to watch anytime!
Not a Rewards member? It’s free and easy to sign up now.
*** Offer limited to Xfinity Rewards Members with X1 or activated Xfinity Flex with account in good standing
Six Things You Didn't Know About My Best Friend's Wedding
If there was a Rom-Com Hall of Fame, 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding would rank high up on the list of inductees. The hit film broke every rom-com rule down to leaving protagonist Jules (Julia Roberts) sans a traditional happy ending. Instead of successfully breaking up the wedding of her best friend (played by the charming Dermot Mulroney), Jules rode off into the proverbial sunset with her George, her incredible gay best friend—and amazing wingman (which was Rupert Everett’s star making role). The film catapulted Cameron Diaz to Hollywood darling and if “I Say a Little Prayer for You” isn’t permanently your go-to karaoke song, then it’s time for a rewatch or three. Before you settle in, enjoy these six behind the scenes and little-known facts about the film.
1. Julia Roberts wasn’t the only actress up for the lead role
While it’s tough picturing anyone but Julia Roberts desperate to break up Kimmy and Michael—one of America’s other sweethearts was up for the task. Yes, Sandra Bullock was the only other actress in consideration for the lead.
2. The original ending was VERY different
It was rough rooting for Jules considering all the unforgivable things she did to break up Kimmy and Michael. But there’s a collective sigh of relief all fans of the film let out at the very end when Jules finally accepts Kimmy and Michael are meant to be. And there’s nothing sweeter than Jules dancing with her best friend George in the closing moments during Kimmy and Michael’s wedding. But a completely different ending, however, was shot where Michael and Kimmy drive off as newlyweds and a friend of Michael’s taps on Jules shoulder and asks her to dance. That friend was actually played by Sex and the City's John Corbett but test audiences were too outraged for this ending to make the final cut. They felt it was a cop out that Jules could only be happy by finding love so quickly!
3. My Best Friend’s Wedding almost came to the small screen
While it never came to be, a TV show was pitched. It followed the adventures of Jules and George in New York City as, wait for it, George gets ready for his own wedding!
4. Cameron Diaz wasn’t “acting” terrified during her karaoke scene
No, Cameron was genuinely terrified, like her character Kimmy, to sing the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself”. The director P.J. Hogan led Cameron to believe she’d be lip-synching, then got her to sing live. “I allowed the true terror of singing in front of people to be alive in me,” Diaz has said. “I wanted to run and hide, and Dermot kept me there. He said, ‘You can do it, you can do it.’
5. Ani DiFranco sings the opening credits
The opening scene of a bride and her three bridesmaids dancing and singing along to “Wishin’ and Hopin’” sets the tone for the film. We dare you to try and get through it without bopping your head and singing along. Singing that cover of “Wishin’ and Hopin” is indie singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco—who was asked to also play the bride in the scene—spikey blue hair and all. Sadly, it didn’t work out with her schedule.
6. A remake was released in 2016
Yup–in China. Check out the trailer for the Far East version of My Best Friend’s Wedding.
