ShareThisAnne Hathaway started off in her teens as the cheery lead of "The Princess Diaries" series, but in the decidedly adult, Bergmanesque drama "Rachel Getting Married," you need to double-check the credits to make sure it's the same actress.Hathaway reinvents herself as Kym, the family's black sheep who gets out of rehab just in time for her sister's wedding. From the first scene, in which her dad, Paul (Bill Irwin), picks her up when she's released, it's clear Kym is nobody's princess. She's been through years of drug addiction and the maelstrom of pain spread to all those around her. She's lost the trust of her family, testing the boundaries of their love.And now she's back, with a sardonic flip of the hair and self-deprecating wit. In her twisted, self-centered view, the marriage is just another way for her sister to prove her superiority.Kym may not be too far off-target. Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) has got some serious issues of her own, and snipes at Kym in a passive-aggressive manner that chips away at her fragile self-confidence. But Rachel treats Kym like royalty compared to the indifference shown their flighty mother (Debra Winger), who tellingly isn't helping Rachel plan the wedding. Paul, a warm but emotionally numb figure, acts as a referee between Rachel and Kym.Overshadowing all of the family interactions is a dark moment from the past -- Kym's low point -- that hardly anyone will acknowledge. The secret comes to light in offhand snippets of dialogue and solemn moments of awkward silence.Director Jonathan Demme keeps the pitch at a raw, nervy level, making you feel as though you're a wallflower at an uncomfortable family reunion.Almost everything that happens -- each glance, snippet of small talk and mundane action -- has an alternate meaning. Something as innocuous and routine as piling dishes into the dishwasher takes on an emotional charge. The tension bubbles over during a particularly painful toast at the rehearsal dinner."Rachel Getting Married" is Hathaway's coming-out party, and even if she doesn't land any major awards or even nominations, it establishes her as a performer of awesome depth. She makes you care for Kym, fear for her and even despise her -- much the way her family reacts. By virtue of the character's jarring shifts between lucid insight and cataclysmic meltdowns, Hathaway makes Kym seem like a real person rather than a cartoonish concoction.The marriage of Hathaway to such a rich role should yield a beautiful career.3.5 stars out of 4Rated: R for language and brief sexuality.Family call: Intended for adults.Running time: 114 minutes.(Pvillarreal(at)azstarnet.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
'Rachel Getting Married' is Anne Hathaway's coming-out party
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