The Wedding March

I did the same thing an earlier reviewer did... I checked the reviews here to see if anyone else was annoyed by that dreadful wig perched on Josie Bissett's head. In previous Hallmark movies, I have frequently been irritated by the ridiculous false eyelashes plastered on the leading actresses, only to discover this new distraction in a Hallmark offering. Why, oh why, can't Hallmark allow its actresses to look more natural?!?!

But, getting back to this wig. I decided I couldn't hack watching the movie because of that stupid hairpiece. However, I noticed there were a number of sequels so I checked the reviews of the second movie and discovered that Hallmark had allowed Bissett to ditch the wig. Hallelujah! So I am giving the original movie a second chance.

Part of me was not expecting all that much. Was not impressed at all with most of the 2016 June Weddings films, with the only previous above average one being 'Wedding Bells' (though 'Stop the Wedding' had its moments). 'Ms Matched' was especially bad and one of the worst 2016 Hallmark films. Still saw it anyway for Hallmark completest sake and also for the ever watchable Jack Wagner. It also sounded quite charming, the only premise of the June Weddings films that year that sounded appealing.

'The Wedding March' left me rather mixed. There are definitely good things, quite a lot of them actually with a couple of them being done better done than most Hallmark films, and it is above watchable. Of the 2016 June Weddings films, it is the second best by quite some way and the only other 2016 June Weddings film to be above average. Having said that, 'The Wedding March' also could have been quite a lot better though its flaws have been worse in other films of theirs.

Am going to start with the good things. Josie Bissett and Wagner are very charming leads and always engage, Wagner is especially good and loved how the film played to his strengths and got him to do what he is better known for. Emily Tennant brings a lot of heart to the film and the sister relationship is absolutely beautifully done, so sincere and relatable. The family relationships in general are very honestly and plausibly done and don't feel forced or schmaltzy. There is some spark between Bissett and Wagner.

Did like the production values too, with the scenery being particularly eye catching. The music is very pleasant on the ears and fits within the film. The script flows well and doesn't come over as cheesy or over-sentimental. The story is light hearted and heartfelt enough and the characters on the whole were ones connecting with.

It is though very formulaic and doesn't do anything new really with very familiar territory, or at least on the romance angle. While there is chemistry there between Bissett and Wagner it could have been stronger and also more prominent within the plot rather than playing too much second fiddle to the family relationships. It is also slightly improbable with the age difference.

Furthermore, this reviewer absolutely agrees with everybody in regard to Bissett's truly atrocious and blatantly obviously unreal wig, it seemed like an attempt to make her younger but actually aged her and made her look like too much of a china doll. Some of the dialogue is on the corny side and the ending is too neat and can be seen from some way off. While liking the characters on the whole, the ex boyfriend is annoying, uninteresting and adds nothing to the plot other than being a seemingly obligatory Hallmark plot device.

Overall, worth seeing and one of only two 2016 June Weddings film to be above average, though not a must. 6/10.

A lovely Hallmark film, with a good "young loves meet years later" theme.

I especially liked the scenes between the lead couples daughters, I thought that made for a nice different element in these quite formulaic films.

With good performances given by all, this was fun.

I was amazed to learn that there are (at the time of writing) 4 sequels though!

Jack Wagner and Josie Bissett are a good couple in this movie. Their backstory is mostly believable (disregard the real age difference to play along), and they seem real enough in their interactions. I do not believe for one second, however, that a former male pop star loves owning a B&B in the country. And the capable, successful business woman does not even bend down to try to put a bicycle chain back in place--what's up with that? All that bicycling was rather hokey anyway. The typical schmuck fiancé is just a place-holder. His character does not really contribute anything to the film. The audience is not the least bit worried that he will interfere with the love story. The mini-plot of the guy selling his house at the beginning and end is kind of a waste of space, but that apparently is the formula Hallmark likes to use. My main complaint: As another reviewer stated, I just couldn't look away from that horrible, horrible wig. It was so very distracting. Josie Bissett most likely does not even need one; I just do not understand why they stuck that messy ponytail on her head! Sigh.

This one was actually not bad at all. The chemistry between Jack Wagner and Josie Bissett was good. They were both age appropriate despite numerous comments about Jack Wagner being 11 years older than Ms Bissett. They looked fine together. At least, at 45, she was playing a woman with a college age daughter instead of a toddler. Same for him. I liked that they did not try to follow the usual Hallmark formula and manufacture a secondary romance between their 2 kids. Instead, casting two talented young actresses who became instant buddies. Jack's daughter looked like a tall and thin Scarlett Johanssen. The one wrong note was Josie's god-awful wig. Why? Surely, if she needed a wig, Hallmark could have afforded one that looked natural. This one was so ugly, I am surprised Miss Bissett herself didn't speak up. I have seen more flattering wigs in a Halloween Costume shop. It was all very strange, especially since her make-up looked quite pretty instead of being laid on with a trowel like many of the Hallmark makeup artists do.