Review of Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011) by Thomas W — 02 Sep 2011

Mandy Moore (American Dreamz, Tangled, Because I Said So) plays Ava, a successful marriage counselor who has just married the man of her dreams, Charlie (Kellan Lutz - Twilight, Prom Night, Immortals), who runs his own vineyard.

The couple is stereotypical-movie perfection; but only six weeks after their blissful wedding day, Ava's life begins to unravel when her parents announce that they want to divorce mere weeks before their 30th wedding anniversary! Her father (James Brolin - Catch Me If You Can, Burlesque, Traffic) apparently had an affair decades ago and her mother (Jane Seymour - Wedding Crashers, Live and Let Die, "Dr.

Quinn Medicine Woman") no longer wants to tolerate him. The entire movie has Ava frantically rushing around trying to resolve any issue her parents might have with each other (this gets exhausting early on) at the expense of her own marriage.

All of the characters in the film appear to be spoiled children who put themselves first ... it only appears that Ava wants her parents to remain together (I'm thinking she has invested hours of time and cash on an upcoming anniversary party and so she doesn't want any of it wasted).

As she cannot handle her own problems and issues, I highly doubt she would have ever become a successful marriage counselor in the first place (only in Hollywood). Love, Wedding, Marriage is a poorly written film about un-likable people.

It is awkward and clumsy and it doesn't appear to know how to get to where it is wanting to go -- it is very network TV. First-time director Dermot Mulroney (star of My Best Friend's Wedding, The Family Stone, Zodiac) needs to stay in front of the camera .

.. as this freshman effort of his was a failure. Equally as dismal is the "acting" of Lutz ... who, well, can't act (although he can take off his shirt -- I'm actually surprised they didn't have him shirtless for the wedding).

A brief, lively cameo by Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, Clue, Who Framed Roger Rabbit) early-on gives the film some hope ... but it is as short-lived as his role. If given the chance, I would speak-out in dis-favor of this film well before Ava and Charlie ever said "I do".

It is bad ... and I will now "forever hold my peace".