The Bartered Bride romantic comedy. Thus on its opening night the opera, in its two-act version with spoken dialogue, was poorly attended and indifferently received. Receipts failed to cover costs, and the theatre director was forced to pay Smetana's fee from his own pocket. Smetana's friend Josef Srb-Debrnov, who was unable to attend the performance himself, canvassed opinion from members of the audience as they emerged. "One praised it, another shook his head, and one well-known musician ... said to me: 'That's no comic opera; it won't do. The opening chorus is fine but I don't care for the rest.'" Josef Krejčí, a
Bride Wars when Kermode included "Terminator Salvation" and "Couples Retreat" on his list by popular demand, "Bride Wars" still finished eighth, allowing him to keep his job. In one of the few positive reviews of the film, "Time" critic Mary Pols wrote, "At least, and this is something to be grateful for, "Bride Wars" deviates from the usual wedding-flick routine of maids of honor who should be the bride (or groom). And even though the catfighting goes over the top, the notion that a passionate female friendship can turn ugly in a heartbeat is, sadly, realistic." Apart from negative reviews, the film