Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt, Chad Michael Murray, Rachael Harris, Sean Teale, Wilson Cruz, Michael McDonald, Tasneem Roc, Dalip Sondhi
In recent years, there’s been a rise in movies featuring lavish weddings at exotic locations, often mixed with romance and comedy. Two notable examples from two years ago were “Ticket to Paradise,” featuring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and “Shotgun Wedding,” with Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel.
More recently, “Anyone But You,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, received great reviews and performed well at the box office.
It was only a matter of time before a simplified version of this trend appeared on Netflix. “Mother of the Bride,” starring Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, and Benjamin Bratt, fits this bill. However, it borrows heavily from other, better films and lacks depth in its characters, making it barely deserving of the title “movie.”
In “Mother of the Bride,” Emma (Miranda Cosgrove) and her boyfriend RJ (Sean Teale) dine at a fancy restaurant where RJ proposes to Emma. Excitedly, Emma accepts, but then worries about telling her mother, Lana (Brooke Shields).
Meanwhile, Lana, dressed in a lab coat, is busy securing funding for her genetic research. She sees Emma at the door, who has returned from a year in England with a fiancé. Although Lana is disappointed that Emma isn’t pursuing her graduation, she supports her daughter’s decision, even agreeing to a destination wedding in Phuket.
In Phuket, Lana is shocked to discover that RJ’s father, Will, is someone from her past who broke her heart at Stanford. They are joined by other old university friends, including Lana’s best friend Janice, Scott, and Clay.
In the whirlwind of bridesmaid dress fittings, rehearsals, relaxing yoga sessions, and spa treatments, overseen by the no-nonsense wedding planner Camala (Tasneem Roc), amidst the picturesque setting, the characters learn valuable lessons about family and second chances.
The wedding festivities include a blend of Bollywood-style dance moves, a comical miscommunication overheard on the phone, accidental plunges into the pool (not just once, but twice), unexpected encounters with nakedness, and other amusing mishaps.
The movie’s main problem lies in its script, written by Robin Bernheim, who is known for the Netflix “The Princess Switch” trilogy. The script leaves the cast stuck in shallow storytelling. It tries to portray Emma and her mother, Lana, as close due to bonding after Emma’s father, Lana’s husband, died in a car accident when Emma was eight.
However, Lana is unaware of her daughter’s relationship because she’s too focused on work. Additionally, Lana doesn’t know what Emma does for a living, raising questions about communication methods or resources available to them.
Despite Lana being a successful career woman managing a laboratory, the script portrays her as clumsy around her ex and a handsome doctor at the resort. The film lacks exploration of the economic aspects despite mentioning Instagram shoots and designer dresses, missing an opportunity for satire on the commodification of life.
The only character in sync with satire is Tasneem Roc’s brand manager character, Camala, who provides some meager laughs.
Tasneem Roc’s portrayal of the eccentric wedding planner provides some much-needed levity, injecting the film with moments of genuine humor amidst the chaos. However, the satire on the commodification of life events feels underdeveloped, missing an opportunity to offer meaningful commentary on contemporary culture.
Directed by Mark Waters (“Mean Girls”), “Mother of the Bride” lacks realism. The grand Thai ceremony, supposedly funded by Emma’s company despite her being an intern, feels disconnected from Lana and Will’s romance, which feels secondary. The film’s attempts at humor fall flat, such as a pickleball shot to the groin.
Directed by Mark Waters, known for “Mean Girls,” the film suffers from a lack of authenticity, with unrealistic plot points and exaggerated scenarios detracting from its overall impact.
Despite its flaws, “Mother of the Bride” may find an audience among fans of the genre, offering a superficial but entertaining take on the lavish world of destination weddings.