There is something positive to be said for the effort Hallmark is making to display diversity in recent movies. This film was one of the very lovely movies to come along that offered a new direction in that effort. The Wedding Contract is a simple story about two young Jewish singles, who meet, fall in love, and then have to navigate their path to a traditional wedding. The bride's family is portrayed as observing the typical lifestyle of a Conservative Jewish family. Sabbath rituals, foods that are prepared and shared with great joy, and customs that are a way of life.
Problems arise when the groom's less traditional family life is introduced. His mother is widowed, is a world traveller, married to a non-Jewish man, and somewhat of an unknown in the mix. Meeting her is completely as expected. There are edgy interactions with the bride's very warm, embracing, effusive family members.
But, as is expected in Hallmark films, all is ironed out and peacefully resolved. Everyone eventually gets along, new relationships are forged,and there is the anticipated happy ending.
However, there needs to be some mention here of the aspects of this story that, perhaps, should not go overlooked. Some the discussion and exhibiting of typical Jewish traditions become a bit "in your face" at times. The dialogue became almost like a Sunday School lesson in how one traditional Jewish family lives. Too many "lessons" seem to prevail. As a practicing Conservative Jew, from an Orthodox Jewish background, I found some of the dialogue a bit excessive. Some of the traditions could have been understood just as well by example rather than by long explanations.
In the end, everything and everyone come together happily. One, perhaps small, issue needs some mention. Despite all the observing of all the Jewish traditions, one personal comment here . In as religious and traditional a ceremony as this wedding includes,(circling one another, breaking of the glass, etc. ) a typical Jewish bride would present herself a bit more modestly than in a strapless wedding dress. Even a little lace shawl or soft covering during the ceremony would have been more traditional than a low-cut strapless gown. A very minor comment, but still one that appeared to be divergent from everything else that was portrayed so traditionally and beautifully.
A lovely movie with lots of lessons, but a good nod to diversity in these times.
