“The Wedding Ringer,” directed by Jeremy Garelick opens with soon-to-be-married Doug Harris (Josh Gad) stuck in a pickle as he struggles to find a best man. After getting rejected by several potential candidates, he falls through his desk and struggles to back up. Simple, slapstick humor like this is used throughout the film.

The movie follows awkward, friendless Doug as he develops a “bromance” with best-man-for-hire Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) and his other paid-for groomsmen, a motley crew Doug characterizes as “the Goonies all grown up and turned into rapists.” Other characters include Doug’s fiancée, Gretchen (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) and her family.

At times, “The Wedding Ringer” feels like a sub-par, male-centric “Bridesmaids.” The jokes are sophomoric at best and straight-up cringe-worthy at worst. Scenes like Doug’s crazy bachelor party (complete with a horrifying dog/peanut butter scene) exemplify a perverse sense of humor that makes audiences laugh simply because it is so shocking.

But it’s not all asinine one-liners and locker-room humor. Tender scenes like Doug and Jimmy’s wedding dance and Doug’s interactions with his in-laws-to-be are touching. Gretchen’s family, rounded out with Cloris Leachman, Ken Howard, Mimi Rogers and Olivia Thirlby, brings the right balance of sweet and sour to the flick.

While “The Wedding Ringer” doesn’t do pre-wedding shenanigans as well as “Bridesmaids,” it is still an entertaining, light-hearted movie that’s good for some laughs.

_MOVE gives “The Wedding Ringer” 3 out of 5 stars._