Watch The Romantics

Laura Rosen (Katie Holmes) is asked to be the maid of honor to Lila Hayes (Anna Paquin) one of her best friends. The two girls, along with several other college friends are getting together for what should be a celebration of a lifetime, if they did not have other issues to consider. Laura and the groom Tom McDevon (Josh Duhamel) were in a relationship themselves, prior to the engagement and the tension is clear. As she labors with her speech before the rehearsal dinner, Laura is clearly having a difficult time putting forth the right words. Her friends are questioning her state of mind, knowing the history that she shares with the groom.

The event is taking place at the families beach house, and alcohol is flowing freely. Speeches are being made, some touching, while others are unwelcome, but when it was Laura's turn to express her congratulations, she fumbles through it. After slipping and combining her name with the groom, instead of the bride to be, the guests fall silent.

When the speech is over, Lila is visibly upset and leaves the room, leaving the rest of her friends to fend for themselves. The party disperses and the friends grab some more alcohol from the bar and head for the beach, where the drinking and partying continue.

The groom decides to make a speech, then rushes into the water, after which time his friends strip down to their underthings and follow him in. They stay for awhile and return to the beach, where they get dressed again. Laura observes Tom swimming away from the group and thinks nothing of it, until he does not show up to continue the party.

The rest of the friends split up and go in search for Tom. Galt Niederhoffer writes and directs this comedy drama, with supporting roles by Malin Åkerman as Tripler, Adam Brody as Jake, and Candice Bergen as Augusta Hayes.