Adam Shankman's comedy tells the story of Mary Fiore (Lopez) - San Francisco's most sought-after wedding planer - who has encountered her first professional problem for a long time.

While celebrating her newest and most lucrative account, she's fallen for the groom of the most expensive and prestigious society wedding, which will make or break her career.

Dr Steve Edison (McConaughy) turns Mary's busy yet uncomplicated life upside-down. He is having serious doubts about his forthcoming nuptials and must play the role of the excited groom whilst falling harder for his wedding planner with every passing day.

As the big day nears, Mary faces the daunting task of reassuring the bride her fears are simply pre-nuptial nerves, and convincing herself and her father that she'd be happy to end up with her Italian childhood friend as a groom.

This romantic comedy spent a fortnight at the top of the US box office chart, proving that beautiful stars with sparkling smiles and perfect bodies can draw an audience.

Apart from the aesthetic appeal of The Wedding Planner, the unoriginal but thoroughly watcheable movie brings so much charm to the big screen that even the most cynical viewer will be carried away by the romance.

Lopez is sweet in the role of the coquettish and ditzy career woman who is trying to conceal her need for a lover with unbridled ambition and hard work.

The chemistry between her and McConaughey gives the film the energy to progress the story until the climactic wedding day scene, which ties up all the loose ends satisfactorily.

The charisma of the leads will more than satisfy their fans and those seeking a couple of hours of light entertainment.

The premise of the film - two people who have fallen in love at first sight but who nobly don't want to hurt others - fuelled many Hollywood movies of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Wedding Planner does it as well as any of the old movies and adds an element of sophistication to the proceedings.

Natalie Stone