AMG Review of My Best Friend's Wedding [Original Soundtrack]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

The soundtrack to the Julia Roberts romantic comedy #My Best Friend's Wedding is appropriately comprised of love songs, but since this is the soundtrack to a blockbuster, it relies on new covers from hip artists of familiar songs. My Best Friend's Wedding works better than it should, since most of the vocalists -- including Tony Bennett, Jann Arden, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Ani DiFranco -- concentrate on the songs; even the weakest song, Diana King's take on Bacharach/David's "I Say a Little Prayer," works because the song itself is so well written. These covers are set side by side with oldies by Jimmy Soul, Jackie DeShannon, and the Exciters, as well as "I'll Be Okay," a new song sung by Amanda Marshall, and the end result is a pleasant listen that occasionally achieves the charm of the film itself.