Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011)

Directed by: Dermot Mulroney | 87 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Mandy Moore, Kellan Lutz, James Brolin, Jane Seymour, Jessica Szohr, Michael Weston, Marta Zmuda, Richard Reid, Christopher Lloyd, Alexis Denisof, Alyson Hannigan, Colleen Camp, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Shuff, Bob Edes, Joe Chrest, Kim Vu, Kenneth Brown Jr., Brandi Coleman, Michael Arata, Marwa Bernstein, John McConnell, Autumn Federici, Sarah Lieving, Carol Sutton, Ron Flagge, Victor Tijerino, Michael Showers, Douglas M. Griffin, Dean J. West, Geri Teasley

Dermot Mulroney has never been a high-flyer as an actor, but that doesn’t mean his most recent career switch is one to encourage. His directorial debut ‘Love, Wedding, Marriage’ turns out to be an absolute failure. There is already a problem with the presentation. The simple actors who take on the lead roles are up to that point, but that title, come on! It is like a first working title that was scribbled just as quickly at the top of the screenplay when there was still no idea what the print should be about. If Mulroney really thinks this is a tasteful title that will lure audiences to the cinema (or rather, the video store), this says enough about his “visionary” qualities as a filmmaker. Unfortunately it doesn’t stop here. The film itself is, if possible, even worse than the languid, sluggish title.

Mandy Moore has her limitations, but with her mischievous face and cheerful demeanor, she can make a welcome appearance in a film. But that must be a film that is well put together and has some romance or humor in it that the actress can do something with. ‘Love, Wedding, Marriage’ is unfortunately not such a film. Many clichés are used and milked out, without regard for credibility or the requirements for actual romance or humor.

In principle, the concept of a hopelessly romantic marriage/relationship therapist who suddenly has to save her parents’ marriage is not that crazy. When her parents come to her house arguing, it makes for some fun ironic moments, and the inability for Ava (Moore) to remain professional because of her emotional involvement is also slightly amusing.

But Ava’s efforts to keep her parents together quickly become tedious and exhausting, as do the script’s demands to create wacky situations that seem anything but realistic. Like the moment when the parents (Jane Seymour and James Brolin, still somewhat effective in their roles) visit the crazy therapist Dr. George (Christopher Lloyd) who is hyperactive and expects his patients to do the same. Which they then do immediately, even if they were already barely prodded to visit a therapist at all. A joint wall-climbing session (with parents and Ava’s new husband (Kellan Lutz) also makes for painfully unpleasant and flashy symbolic moments. Like Ava who is so preoccupied with her parents that she forgets to support her own husband (literally and figuratively) , which then reaches the ground floor a little faster than desired.

One of the most inappropriate “sensitive” or “romantic” moments in the film occurs towards the end when Ava pulls out a pretty tacky trick to immediately bring out her mother’s deep-seated feelings for her father. This action by Ava could be labeled as a sick joke under other circumstances, but it is not mentioned here, perhaps because the desired effect is achieved.

One of the most disastrous aspects of the film is the lack of involvement in the main characters or events. The impending divorce of the parents may still be somewhat regrettable, but the way and speed with which their daughter tries to put everything together (because it has to be right again for a planned surprise party) feels so artificial that you as a viewer can’t do much anymore. then roll your eyes or frown. Give it some time and it will probably get better on its own. But such realism can of course not make for a nice film. sigh…

However, the award for most uninteresting relationship goes to that of the central couple, Ava and her husband Charlie. The only romantic moment takes place when he presents her as a wedding present a bottle of wine made from his own grapes, with the footnote that they can only open it after ten years, when it has matured to the full (just like their love). Furthermore, there is little fun to experience these people and their relationship. On the one hand, this is because there is little fascinating happening with these people and on the other hand because the actors hardly deserve this “title”, which is especially true for Kellan Lutz, who only seems to be hired to take off his shirt at set times and show his impressive torso. to show. The actors are usually more mannequins than actors anyway. It’s an incredible collection of attractive young people. Fortunately, not all of them are a waste of celluloid. Jessica Szohr, who plays Ava’s riotous sister, and Marta Zmuda as the empty-headed Polish import bride Kasia (and says “Thank You” on everything) occasionally provide some fun energy in the film. It’s just far from enough to save the movie. Hopefully filmmaker Mulroney will soon learn from his mistakes or give up directing. In any case, ‘Love, Wedding, Marriage’ is a film (title) to quickly forget.