My Mother's Wedding

My Mother's Wedding is one of those films that I walked into completely blind-the only real draw for me was Scarlett Johansson. I enjoy her as an actress most of the time, so I figured why not? Unfortunately, this movie was less "hidden gem" and more "what on earth did I just watch?"

The premise sounds straightforward enough: a mother is getting married... again. But instead of a cohesive family dramedy, the film devolves into a jumble of awkward, loosely connected storylines. We have one daughter labeled a "slut" at every turn, another discovering her husband's secret bedroom preferences while also catching him cheating, and random side plots that pop up only to go nowhere.

And then there's Scarlett Johansson-British. At least... that's what the script claimed. In reality, the accent was painfully unconvincing, and it felt like the filmmakers knew it. She barely speaks in the movie, as if minimizing dialogue could minimize the damage. Honestly, it felt like her "star power" was the main reason she was even there.

The film is full of odd gaps and plot holes. When exactly did Skyler get drunk? Why is a kid suddenly in a tree? Why does anger get redirected at someone else for no clear reason? Did the celebrity actually leave with the local man at the end, or was that just vague hand-holding symbolism? None of it is resolved in a satisfying way.

The biggest issue is that the film never builds a connection between the audience and its characters. Instead of following individual arcs long enough for us to invest, it jumps around aimlessly, leaving scenes feeling undercooked and hollow.

By the time the credits rolled, all I could think about was Scarlett's accent-so distractingly bad that I half expect her real-life husband to parody it on Saturday Night Live. Sadly, the rest of the film wasn't much better. This wedding is one invite I wish I'd declined.

I went into My Mother's Wedding with some curiosity, but it turned out to be a confused mess.

The talented cast feels wasted in roles that lack depth or direction. The scenes feel disconnected, and the dialogue is painfully unnatural.

This was directed and co-written by Kristin Scott Thomas. I wish I could say she deserves credit, but all I can say is: what on earth happened?

"My Mother's Wedding" attempts to blend family comedy with emotional drama, but the result feels scattered rather than cohesive. The constant shifts between comedic moments and more somber scenes disrupt the narrative rhythm, and the characters lack sufficient depth. While some visuals are striking and emotionally resonant, weaknesses in pacing and overall cohesion prevent the film from reaching its full potential. In the end, what remains is a rather lifeless experience that feels fleeting rather than memorable.

The acting is very good, and the pace of the film is nice. The story unfurls thoughtfully.

Kristin Scott Thomas' strong directorial debut--wish she had more screen time.

There were a couple of scenes that perhaps didn't completely work, but it's still a wonderful film The lovely setting makes it well worth seeking out to view on the big screen.

It's a comedy-drama set over a weekend in rural England in modern times. It follows a mother, Diana (Kristin Scott Thomas), on her third marriage weekend to unremarkable Geoff (James Fleet). Diana was widowed twice, many years earlier; her husbands died serving in the Royal Navy. She raised three daughters-- Royal Navy officer Katherine (Scarlett Johansson), famous actress Victoria (Sienna Miller), and National Health Service nurse Georgina (Emily Beecham).

We learn the struggles of the three daughters, who each have relationship troubles exposed during the weekend, and they all struggle with memories of their father(s). A private detective, Steve (Samson Kayo), and The Grand Fromage (Thibault de Montalembert) add comic relief.

"My Mother's Wedding" is an entertaining glimpse of sisterly relationships. It gets rather sugary towards the end, especially during Kristin Scott Thomas's monologue near the end, setting her daughters straight. Scott Thomas's personal history partly inspires the film. There are some good scenes, but too many characters clutter the story, and the ending is much too easy.