MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

US, 2024, 88 minutes, Colour.

Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt, Rachael Harris, Sean Teale, Chad Michael Murray, Michael McDonald, Wilson Cruz, Tasneem Roc.

Directed by Mark Waters.

After so many Father of the bride films, it seems only right to have, even belatedly, to have a Mother of the Bride. And the narrative attraction is always the wedding.

This is a brief, rather slight story, with some moments in London, some moments in San Francisco, but most of the film very attractively in Thailand, in Phuket. (And, the credits list shows that most of the crew for the making of this film were from Thailand.)

Audiences who enjoyed Julia Roberts and George Clooney in A Ticket to Paradise may find the plotline here rather familiar. The romance in the exotic setting, the preparations for the wedding, and tensions between the two central characters with reconciliation.

Brooke Shields served as Executive Producer of the film and it is very much hers, reminding audiences of her long career as a child star, films and television, author. And there is a range of predictable enough characters, the pushy best friend, the pleasant gay couple, the bossy marriage organiser as well as the central couple and their wedding preparations.

Nothing particularly startling, more of an easy, undemanding watch.

1. The title, expectations? Focus on the mother rather than the father?
2. The situation, Emily, in London, her talents, company and sponsorships, remains with RJ, the lavish proposal and setting, Emmy going back to inform her mother?
3. The portrait of Lana, Dr, on the phone, demanding, reassuring the staff, determined? Welcoming Emmy home? The comedy and drama of their interactions, the protective mother, the background of the long dead father, Lauren and her control, Emmy counterbalancing her mother? The information about the wedding in Thailand, all the organisation?
4. The attraction of the ties settings? Full cat?
5. The situation, R and her control, bossy, calling Lana Mumma Winslow, the timetable, the schedule, overriding objections, the location, the costumes and dress, the dancing rehearsals, putting Lana’s toast speech…?
6. The revelation that RJ was Will Jackson son? The meeting up of all the old friends and memories of studies at Stanford? Tensions? Janice and her interventions? The gay couple? The gradual revelation of the story of the past, will walking out, Lana changing her phone number, their marriages, children, 30 years of no communication?
7. Lucas, his presence on holiday, Dr, the contact with recruiting Lana? His romantic interest, stepping back?
8. The ups and downs of the moods, tension between Lana and Will, gradual mellowing, playing of the attraction to Lucas, the dense and Mona Lisa, the drive, stranded, the boat? The crisis and the behaviour at the wedding? The issue of Katrina, her arrival, with the ring, the proposal?
9. Emmy, doubts, discussions with RJ, his love for her, standing up for herself, confronting her mother, the ceremony itself, the pastor, the response, the aftermath, the tensions, the throwing of the bouquet?
10. Everybody watching Katrina’s arrival, the resolution of the situation?
11. The final credits and everybody happily dancing?