This review is not coming from someone who regularly hates on Hallmark films and hates all of them. Have actually been surprised by many, and a lot of my ratings have indicated average and above. The premise to 'Sister of the Bride' though was not that appealing, but saw it anyway for Hallmark completest sake and also because of liking Becca Tobin and especially Michael Gross in other films and finding them redeeming qualities in those.
Neither sadly are redeeming qualities here, quite the opposite. 'Sister of the Bride' may not be among the worst that Hallmark ever did, but of their very inconsistent to not particularly output that year it is very close to being down there in my view. Despite being very formulaic sounding, the premise did actually have some potential. All that potential sadly is wasted in the film not executing most of its components well at all.
Only the beautiful scenery and some nice photography comes off well in 'Sister of the Bride'.
Everything else is a waste of time. Tobin tries too hard as a character who tries too eagerly to be as flawless as possible and it never looks natural, while Ryan Rottman is very stiff and uncharismatic. The chemistry between them just isn't there either, too much of a disconnect. Don't expect Gross to be a redeeming quality, he has been in a lot of bad films and can be a redeeming quality but he is wasted by a character that is so obnoxious and he tries so hard to make the character work but it comes over as over-compensating. Beth Broderick comes off least badly of the cast and even she lacks subtlety.
All the characters are difficult to connect with, none of them are developed that well and the film either tries to make the characters too perfect or exaggerates their flaws (both extremes are obvious here). The dialogue is very awkward sounding and cheesy throughout, the music is forgettable at best and can be overbearing, the direction is going through the motions like and the story is formulaic and drags on and on.
Pretty poor film and very little works other than the production values. 2/10.
Sister of the Bride
2019
Comedy / Romance
Sister of the Bride
2019
Comedy / Romance
Keywords: romance
Plot summary
When anthropology professor Stephanie gets engaged to her boyfriend Ben after only sixth months of dating, they head to Stephanie's family's Palm Springs vacation house excited to share the news. But Stephanie's parents, Robert and Eleanore, are immediately concerned the couple has moved too fast and compares them to Stephanie's older sister, Tracy who also recently got engaged to her boyfriend of ten years, Preston. Since it was always their favorite holiday as kids, Stephanie and Tracy work out an arrangement where Tracy and Preston will get married this Fourth of July at the house and Stephanie and Ben will get married the next summer. But after Stephanie finds out her parents are selling the house, she realizes that her and Ben's plans must change. After Ben is offered a job abroad, Stephanie starts to wonder if perhaps her and Ben aren't on the same page about their future. As she spends the summer helping plan her sister's wedding, Stephanie learns that the love Ben and her share can carry them through any obstacle that comes their way.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
A joyless engagement
Hallmark can deal with realistic problems too
A little different, this Hallmark movie isn't all sweetness and flowers. It deals with a rushed engagement and different priorities of a couple. Get to know one another first, it takes time. The couples are attractive and likeable. Didn't quite like that the guy has to sacrifice his career more than she does.
low drama Hallmark
Ben (Ryan Rottman) proposes and Stephanie (Becca Tobin) accepts. They visit her parents (Michael Gross, Beth Broderick) in Palm Springs. Her sister Tracy (Chelsea Gilson) announces her wedding to Preston on the upcoming 4th of July. Her father is worried that Stephanie has only been dating Ben for six months. Her mother is worried that Tracy is getting married in four weeks. The girls are shocked that their parents are selling the house.
Nothing really happens. At least, it's nothing dangerous. I'm struggling to find the drama. There is nothing particularly funny either. I just kept thinking that this is going to end with a double wedding. I'm surprised that it wasn't suggested by either Ben or Stephanie right from the beginning. Then the other one can have cold feet and the movie can have real stakes. The stakes in this one ends up being something more pedestrian. In real life, it would be a real problem so I'm not completely dismissing it. It's not a cinematic drama. At least, it's not done in a cinematic way. The problems jumble together in a real way and again, it's not cinematic. The pacing is really slow. Oh and the carrot cutting is awkward. I feared for Becca's fingers.