Netflix’s Mother of the Bride might just be one of the corniest, wildest romantic comedies yet. There were far too many instances throughout the film where I debated turning it off and going about my business watching something else, but I persevered for the second chance romance because of the cast.
Still, the big question here is—why? What are these kids supposed to say to their kids? Ah, yes, your grandparents are the only ones because they’re also married to each other. They’re now basically step-siblings, and I realize there’s no blood relation here, but why in the Game of Thrones? Why on earth couldn’t we have at least made one of them an uncle or something instead of the father of the groom and mother of the bride?
The worst (and best) part is that Brooke Shields’ Lana and Benjamin Bratt’s Will work significantly better as a couple than Miranda Cosgrove’s Emma and Sean Teale’s RJ because the film spends too much important time making Emma a workaholic. The formulaic structure of the romantic comedy tropes isn’t a problem here, but instead, it’s the decision-making that makes very little sense in the awkward threads linking these characters together. The execution wobbles while trying to balance the two relationships, but it fails to flush them both out. There’s very little we know, and so much relies on the time spent together, which frankly is not enough.
These qualms aside, Netflix’s Mother of the Bride is a mostly enjoyable, harmless romantic comedy with fun moments and great scenic shots. But it’s not a movie meant for those who aren’t romance enthusiasts. It certainly doesn’t have the same appeal as The Fall Guy or even some other exceptions because its flaws can deter the film’s enjoyment.
As mentioned, the second chance romance saves the film. It’s not so much about Emma and RJ’s wedding or the exhausting conversations about social media, but it’s Lana and Will reconnecting the threads that’ve consistently flowed through them. It’s righting wrongs from the past, misunderstandings, and finally getting answers for the one relationship that clearly impacted them both. Simultaneously, it’s important to note how incredible it is every time we get older couples on our screens. It’s rare to see romances for characters in their 50s and 60s, so the film is a major win with this decision.
Additionally, jump-starting the film’s opening with “I’m Good” and ending it with the song while featuring a scene that’s pure fun is a sweet way to tie everything together. A solid needle drop can do wonders in a film, and Netflix’s Mother of the Bride clearly understands this. Whatever scene we get where the song is featured, it’s easily a load of fun and necessary in a world of cruel TV shows and heartbreaking film endings. While there’s a high chance many viewers will want more out of the film’s love stories and chunks of it will feel incomplete, it’s a decent thing to watch that’ll include moments that are equally questionable and genuinely good.
Mother of the Bride is now streaming on Netflix.
I agree with you. It was a lighthearted fun movie. People are so mean online about these kind of movies.