The Wedding Dress

I happened to turn on the TV the other night and catch this gem of a movie. While it's outline may seem overly sentimental they manage to pull it off. With a solid performance by a couple of American TV-stables this movie succeeds in the difficult (and very misused) genre of romantic comedy. The plot weaves effortlessly between the different characters never spending too much time in one place and, thankfully, never overemphasizing the atmosphere. While not likely to win the Golden Palms this is certainly a worthwhile movie, so if you happen to catch it, don't change channels, it beats Jay Leno any day!

Originally we sat down with my wife to clear some video tapes for re-recording. We were quite convinced that this never-heard-of piece wouldn't have our attention for more than 10 minutes and we can erase it with a clear conscience.

But after less than that we were trapped into the subtle magic of the movie and declared it to be one of our favorites. None of the names were familiar at that time but I have checked cast details and though there are no blockbuster names, a couple of the actors/actresses have appeared in major movies. Of course the betrayed wife (the amazing Margaret Colin) was presidential aide in ID4, of course the photographer (Neil Patrick Harris) fought against aliens in Starship Troopers, of course the grumpy aunt (Tyne Daly) was Lacey in Cagney & Lacey, of course the groom pawning his watch (Wolfgang Bodison) was accused in A Few Good Men and of course his bride (Kimberly Hawthorne) tried to find a senator's kidnapped daughter in Along Came A Spider. With them and all the other characters this is probably the best casting I have seen for a long time and I cannot understand how this romantic masterpiece is so little known of. (I couldn't even find a region 2 DVD.)

The music is beautifully matching the scenes, cinematography is also first class - this is a great example how to make a great movie without Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie and the like.

Watched this to begin with as "wallpaper". However, found it holding my attention and I enjoyed it right through. It reminded me very much of the Sophia Loren movie, "the Yellow Rolls Royce". A nice little movie. It could have been corny but I thought that the different places in which the dress arrived and the ways in which it arrived there were imaginatively thought out. It probably could more be described as a "woman's" movie but fellas may not reject it altogether.

This was a Hallmarky TV movie that would have been a tepid time waster but for the sweet shine of Kathryne Dora Brown as Zoey. I loved the beginning of the movie and I marked time to the end, hopeful that she would reappear.

It didn't occur to me until almost the end of the movie that she might be Tyne Daly's real daughter but when I saw the resemblance to Daly and Georg Brown, I was surprised I hadn't known all along. I have to say that this is one "child of" who could easily make it on talent without connections.

They don't make 'em like this any more. Blood! Gore! Sex! That's all you see now. Or, if they want it to be family entertainment, it is so white bread you sit and say, "What world is this from?" But not this movie. This harkens back to the good old days of movie making, and it's about time! The Wedding Dress was delightfully twisty and turny, with chuckles *and* tears - just like real life happens to be - though the interweaving of the couples might be a bit far fetched. I accepted it, though, as a flashback to the movies of bygone days that tied it all in a neat little parcel while expecting a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. Hey, this is *entertainment* - Lighten up! That every couple touched by this special dress attended the wedding at the end (and though the dress affected them all, it was only worn to *one* very special nuptial) was just wonderful. Can we have more of these, please?