This means war, Bridezilla-style

"Bride Wars" makes a good case for elopement.

Or, at least, saying no to nuptials.

Locally, folks used to cross the border into North Carolina. Things have gotten much more elaborate for the socially ambitious modern bride.

This movie is about bride and bride, not bride and groom. Emma and Liv, friends since childhood, have always dreamed of big weddings at New York City's Plaza Hotel. They, of course, would be the maid of honor for each other.

Then, their proposals, from the confused grooms-to-be, come at about the same time. A clerical error by an all-important wedding planner creates chaos. They are set to be married on the same day.

The brides go crazy. Each wants a larger reception than the other. Each wants more flowers. They have to find new maids of honor. In general, they become bridezillas.

Anyone who has been to a big wedding knows this is not so far-fetched, except, maybe, for the questionable clerical error that causes it all.

Big weddings can be the most bizarre spectacles known to modern civilization, and there's rarely been a flop movie that tried to capitalize on the fervor - from the original (wonderfully natural) "Father of the Bride" (1991) to Robert Altman's "A Wedding" (1978) to the comedic and romantic "Four Weddings and a Funeral" (1994).

"Bride Wars" is on to a winning concept if only it would play for real life rather than slapstick. When it tries too hard to go into "I Love Lucy" territory, it falters (including a silly grand finale wedding fight between the brides). The film is likable, even in its exaggerations, when it sticks to anything resembling a real-life situation.

Kate Hudson plays the aggressive career woman, Liv, and Anne Hathaway is the teacher, Emma, who goes from nice to fiendish to defend her territory.

Hudson, whose trademark, to her detriment, is mere adorable pertness, has never looked so puffy and drawn - made up as if she were playing Cleopatra. If she's not careful, she may go the way of the tragic Meg Ryan, who never could cross over from cuteness to adult roles.

Hathaway has the more sympathetic role and surely gives it the same kind of physical stamina she brought to her Agent 99 in the regrettable, noncomedic "Get Smart."

Her dance effort with male strippers isn't so funny, but it is energetic. Hathaway has graduated from being a Disney princess to serious roles via "Brokeback Mountain" and a superb performance as the black-sheep sister in "Rachel Getting Married."

Of the supporting cast, the grooms and the best friends are nothing much of note. As usual, the grooms cower in befuddled confusion in the background; it's not their day.

Only Candice Bergen has a good role as the snooty, self-serving and oh-so-uppercrust wedding planner who causes all the trouble in the first place.

The entire affair would have been elevated by more clever writing. It's obviously a rushed job.

Look around at the next wedding you're forced to attend and you'll probably see a lot more funny people and situations than you find here. Still, Hath-away and Hudson give it a lively try.

Mal Vincent, (757) 446-2347, mal.vincent@pilotonline.com