'Love Ever After' movie review: 'Beverly Hills Wedding'
The romance 'Beverly Hills Wedding' (premiering Feb. 6 as part of The Hallmark Channel's Love Ever After event) finds a wedding photographer helping plan a picture perfect wedding - even if the nuptials aren't necessarily the bride's dream.
In short: Wedding photographer Molly (Brooke D'Orsay, 'Nostalgic Christmas') wins her sister Sophia (Emma Johnson) an all-expenses-paid wedding in Beverly Hills, but soon learns her ex Cory (Brendan Penny, 'The Secret Ingredient') is also helping plan the ceremony.
"I got it all under control" is Molly's unofficial mantra, but as the story unfolds it begins to sounds more domineering than reassuring. Molly's misguided, if well-intentioned, drive pushes the story forward. And in D'Orsay's hands, Molly never crosses the line of becoming overbearing. If Molly had spiraled out of control and she become unlikable, then the entire film would have imploded utterly. D'Orsay's performance allows Molly to unquestionably take control of the wedding - almost to the point of seemingly forgetting what the bride and groom want - and still keep the audience on Molly's side simply because she just wants the very best for her sister.
Emma Johnson absolutely needs to star in her own Hallmark romance. Much like her supporting character in 'Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas,' Johnson radiates effortless warmth and sincerity as Molly's sister Sophia. It's easy to overlook her grounded character, but Sophia's practical persona is a great juxtaposition against Molly's unintentional bridezilla turn. It could be argued that Sophia is the single most important character in 'Beverly Hills' - everyone else is following their impulses, but it's the kindly Sophia who politely goes along with Molly's machinations ... even if she's not totally sold on the lavish ceremony. The whole story doesn't happen without Johnson's internalized conflicted and sweet performance.
The always charming Penny feels like a bit of third wheel as the love interest in this movie. Aside from gently prodding Molly to follow her dreams and trying to mend his relationship with her, Cory doesn't have a lot to do in 'Beverly Hills.' The more intriguing conflict is between Molly and the bride and groom, as it becomes increasingly clear Molly's ideal wedding is a lot more extravagant than anything Sophia had in mind.
Final verdict: Although the romance between the co-leads isn't the movie's strength, 'Beverly Hills' is a lovely reminder that, despite what every wedding magazine says the 'big day' should look like, a wedding is first and foremost a celebration of love, surrounded by friends and family.
Score: 3.5 chocolate hearts (out of 5)
'Beverly Hills Wedding' premieres on The Hallmark Channel on Feb. 6 as part of the Love Ever After event. The movie is rated TV-G and has a running time of 90 minutes.
