Much like Keira Knightley, for example, Anne Hathaway is one of those young actresses who have the kind of beauty that turns heads, on the red carpet, as well as in the local mini market, but they also have that sense of style and rather discreet personalities that will never put them in the middle of a sex scandal and other tabloid-worthy juicy gossips. An almost-not-there dress or a drunken party photo is never a part of Anne’s act and she lits up a room with her very presence and smile, rather than an extravagant hair-style or elaborate makeup.

In her latest film, the former Disney princess delivers an electrifying part, as a junkie, uncomfortable and inadequate black sheep of the family, an estranged daughter trying to make peace with her family and herself also.

“Rachel Getting Married” is not another movie about dysfunctional families, not a movie that focuses on interracial relations, and it’s almost not like a movie at all. It’s like you’re watching a home-made video of your own brothers and sisters, with sometimes embarrassing and awkward moments. It’s an ode to love and friendship, to forgiveness and all those beautiful things that any family has, along with the yelling and the door-slamming.

Anne Hathaway plays a long-lost sister and daughter who checks out of rehab for the wedding of her sister, Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) to Sidney (“TV on the Radio” frontman Tunde Adebimpe). She comes off like a high-maintenance spoiled addict who only came to ruin a beautiful event and a happy family. But her appearance brings out the dark aspects of the Buchmans and reveals never before told feelings and frustrations, all due to the lack of communication.

The ever-so-perfect looking Hathaway, with her sparkling eyes, rosy cheekbones and incredible smile is so perfect for the role, it’s almost scary. Obviously she grew out of the pretty girl pattern of her previous movies and manages to deliver an incredible performance, as a thin and pale, almost translucent addict, with really bad razor-cut hair and an attitude to match.

The cigarette she always holds is her hand doesn’t look unnatural with the young actress, as you might expect, but it’s a part of the character, as well as her straight forward rude lines. At one point, for example, when she first sees her sister in her wedding dress, visibly nervous and still a bit unforgiving to some mistakes Kim has made in the past, the only compliment that crosses her mind is “Man, you look so skinny, I could swear to God that you were puking again!”

Beautifully shot, with handheld DV cams, the movie directed by Jonathan Demme creates an intimate liaison between the viewer and the characters. Each unfocused face and each endless toast of some tedious uncle create an almost uncomfortable feeling of actually attending the wedding, of being part of this estranged, but ultimately loving family.