The Groomsmen is a comedy-drama film that follows a group of childhood friends in their 30s who are facing various personal challenges just one week before the wedding of one of them, Paulie (John Leguizamo). The groom, his best man, Des (Ed Burns), and their three other groomsmen struggle to come to terms with growing up and dealing with personal issues that threaten to derail the wedding.
Des is reeling from the news that his longtime girlfriend (Brittany Murphy) is pregnant, and he is not sure if he is ready to be a father. Meanwhile, Mike (Matthew Lillard), a married father of two, is struggling with infidelity and the consequences of his actions. TC (Michael Rapaport) is a perpetually single man-child who has never been able to grow up. And, Jimbo (Donal Logue), the oldest of the group, is grappling with the reality of his own mortality.
As the wedding draws near, each of the groomsmen must confront their personal demons and try to make peace with their past mistakes. Along the way, they discover that true friendship and maturity means being able to forgive oneself, reach out for help, and move forward together.
The Groomsmen was directed by Ed Burns and features a talented ensemble cast, including Heather Burns, Jay Mohr, Jessica Capshaw, and Brittany Murphy, in one of her final film roles before her tragic death in 2009. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006 and received positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of male friendship and the struggles of adulthood.