Daughter of the Bride (2008) starring JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Helen Shaver, Kenneth Welsh, Lucas Bryant, Chantal Perron, Luke Perry directed by Leslie Hope Movie Review

Daughter of the Bride (2008)   3/53/53/53/53/5


JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Roxanne in Daughter of the Bride (2008)

The Wedding Planner and her Daughter

"Daughter of the Bride" is also known as "A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride" both of which have cutesy connotations which in fairness suits the movie because it is very cutesy. But "Daughter of the Bride" is also entirely predictable and to be honest drawn out with the first 15 minutes doing very little other than offering up an amusing cameo from Jason Priestley. But whilst predictable and routine "Daughter of the Bride" is inoffensive and if all you want is some simple, clean romantic fun it will do the job.

When her mother Rose (Helen Shaver) returns from a trip to France and announces that she is marrying Jack (Kenneth Welsh) who she met on the trip her daughter Roxanne (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) is not happy. As a wedding planner Roxanne decides to sabotage their relationship by offering to do their wedding for them but using it as an opportunity to dig for dirt and split them up. Roxanne is not alone as Jack's son Charlie (Luke Perry) is also against the wedding, concerned about his inheritance and joins forces with Roxanne in trying to split their parents up. But Roxanne also finds herself having to deal with her ex Dylan (Lucas Bryant) who she hasn't forgiven since he left despite returning and trying to make things up between them.

Luke Perry as Charlie in Daughter of the Bride (2008)

Thinking about "Daughter of the Bride" I am trying to find something unique about it to give you a reason to watch but I can't because it is both simple and predictable. What we get is some simplistic plotting by Roxanne and Charlie as they try to intervene in their parent's wedding and along the way Roxanne discovering that her mum truly is in love with Jack and he is not such a bad guy after all. I could mention that it is set during the lead up to Christmas but other than offering a snowy back drop and a few Christmas trees it doesn't really have a huge part to play and neither does the friendship between Dylan and Roxanne. Basically from a storyline, humour and romance point of view there is nothing which makes "Daughter of the Bride" better than any other movie.

Leading on from this the characters and performances are nothing more than you will have seen before in any other romantic comedy. JoAnna Garcia Swisher is pretty as Roxanne and whilst not really nefarious is comically annoyed over her mum wanting to marry Jack. Then alongside the brief cameo from Jason Priestley we have fellow "Beverly Hills, 90210" alumni Luke Perry as Charlie and whilst Charlie is more nefarious that Roxanne what we basically get is Luke Perry playing it as sexy and I know it.

The thing is that whilst there is nothing unique or special about "Daughter of the Bride" its appeal is that you know what you are going to get before it even starts. You know it will be simple, cutesy and unoriginal but it will also be inoffensive and unchallenging and as such if all you want is some fun, romantic distraction for about 90 minutes it works.

What this all boils down to is that "Daughter of the Bride" is a simple, predictable romantic comedy which is pleasant enough. If you are looking for something fresh and funny it will probably bore you but if you just want something inoffensive and cute it will fill 90 minutes.


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