‘Mother of the Bride’ is cute yet has a disturbing aspect
Category: Television and Streaming
The 2024 movie Mother of the Bride is a cute rom-com, however there is a secondary storyline that should raise an alarm for people. Brooke Shields, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Rachael Harris, Sean Teale, and Chad Michael Murray star in this film that takes viewers to a picturesque setting in Phuket, Thailand.
Lana (Shields) is a successful doctor who just found out her daughter Emma (Cosgrove) is getting married to a man she has never met. Emma is an “influencer” and her sponsors are going to pay for her whole wedding, which will be in Thailand. Everything is planned out, thanks to Emma’s sponsors. She has nothing to do but to follow the directions of the event planner. Everyone has to follow her directions, even to the point of Lana and the bridesmaids wearing hideous black dresses. But it’s all for Emma’s online social followers.
Once she gets to Thailand, Lana discovers Emma’s future father-in-law Will (Bratt) is her old love. They still have feelings for each other but their history is keeping them apart.
So, while the wedding preparations are unfolding, there is a little dance – literally and figuratively – between Lana and Will. And to add some spice to the situation, Lucas (Murray), another successful doctor who happens to be on vacation at the same resort, begins to pursue Lana.
The rom-com storyline is fun, with Shields providing plenty of comedy. While everyone is there for Emma and RJ’s wedding, the passion sizzling between Will and Lana is obvious to all.
The secondary storyline is a sad comment on life in the 2020s. While Lana has always looked forward to planning her daughter’s wedding with her, she get absolutely no say in anything. And neither does Emma. Everything is done so Emma’s followers and her social influence will raise her profile. It’s a very sad way that so many people are living these days. Everything is done to get just the right photo op and photo angle, and to reel in viewers. But really, do viewers actually care about strangers online? Actually, and that’s anther sad thing, yes they often do.
Being a social influencer and content creator is a big thing these days. But so often the content is, well, honestly crap. But no one seems to care. They forge ahead racing each other for more followers, more clicks, more likes, and just more. But when you think about it, the “more” is so darn superficial it really does not make any difference.
The bottom line is, I thought the movie is cute and entertaining, however while I was watching all that influencer crap play out, it was more than a little bothersome.
In the end, yes, Emma decides to stand up for herself but her brand ambassadorship and influencer status remains a priority in her life.
Brooke Shields is delightful to watch, as always. She lights up every scene in which she appears. No wonder she has lasted so long in this business.
The scenery in the movie is spectacular, as is the resort in which they stay. It is a good travel ad for the country but a serious comment on life for today’s generation.
Mother of the Bride streams on Netflix. It is rated TV-PG.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She is a long-standing member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.