Weddings are often described as social minefields, but what happens when your daughter is marrying your ex’s son? This is the premise of Mother of the Bride, a new romantic comedy directed by Mark Waters, known for his work on He’s All That, Mean Girls, and Freaky Friday. The film, penned by Robin Bernheim, the writer behind the Princess Switch trilogy, features Brooke Shields alongside an ensemble cast in a story filled with nuptial slapstick and unexpected twists.
Mother of the Bride is now streaming on Netflix.
The Making of Mother of the Bride
Director Mark Waters shared insights into the film's production, which took place in Thailand: "It was a nice film because it was like an actual destination wedding where you really have nobody to hang out with but the other people in the wedding. We were all living in the same hotels and going to the same restaurant, so everyone naturally became friends."
Storyline
The plot revolves around Lana, whose daughter Emma returns from abroad with a surprising announcement: she’s getting married in Thailand in just a month! The situation becomes even more complicated when Lana discovers that Emma’s fiancé is the son of Will, the man who broke her heart years ago. This sets the stage for a series of humorous and heartfelt moments as Lana navigates the complexities of love, family, and second chances.
Shields and Miranda Cosgrove, who plays Emma, developed a strong bond on set. "I realized the base of these relationships is love and respect and there are growing pains that come with that, which is what the movie is about," Shields told Netflix. "Mostly it was just spending all that time with each other and laughing with each other, and she’s so lovely and composed. We realized we were safe to be ourselves.”
Read also: The Life of Chad Everett Harris
Cosgrove agrees. “What was also fun is, since I turned 30 during filming and it was near Mother’s Day, my mom flew out and we celebrated with Brooke and her daughter,” Cosgrove recalled. “Since the film is so much about a mother-daughter relationship, it was really nice that we all got to celebrate those days together, especially since she’s a huge Brooke Shields fan.”
In February 2023, Netflix announced that the romantic comedy film, written by Robin Bernheim and directed by Mark Waters, was in pre-production.
The Cast and Their Characters
The film features a talented cast, each bringing their unique charm to their respective roles:
- Brooke Shields as Lana: The titular mother of the bride, Lana is a loving but protective figure who wants the best for her daughter, Emma. Her feelings are complicated by the return of Will, her former flame. Shields shared, "What both of those characters were going through was sadness and insecurity. [Will] felt like he wasn’t going to be enough for her. She felt gutted. And then they both had these full lives and experienced tragedy in different ways. Their relationship is layered, and I was really glad that [director Mark Waters] championed that."
- Miranda Cosgrove as Emma: Lana’s newly engaged influencer daughter, Emma, finds herself in a complicated situation when she realizes her fiancé’s father is her mother’s ex-boyfriend. “I’ve never been in a rom-com before, but rom-coms are my favorite genre of film,” Cosgrove told Netflix. “I’ve probably seen them all, so I feel like that prepared me because I love that tone, when things are mostly happy and silly and fun, but then there are these heartfelt moments that creep up on you.”
- Benjamin Bratt as Will: Will has a lot to answer for, especially after his relationship with Lana ended in college. Now, his son RJ is engaged to Emma. Bratt praised Shields, saying, "You don’t end up having a career that spans more than 50 years without having equal parts talent and tenacity. She’s the hardest working person I’ve ever met, she’s a brilliant comedienne, and she does it all with aplomb, just makes it look so easy."
- Chad Michael Murray as Lucas: A dreamy doctor staying at the wedding resort who falls for Lana. Murray said, "I thought it was a fun story that an audience would really rally around and enjoy the feeling of getting away. Reconnecting with Mark Waters (obviously) and then working with [producer] Christina Rogers were also huge motivators."
- Other notable cast members:
- Rhea Perlman as Janice
- Sean Teale as RJ
- Michael McDonald as Scott
- Dalip Sondhi as Clay
- Tasneem Roc as Camala
- Wilson Cruz as Scott
The Making Of 'Bride of Chucky' | Chucky Official
Here's a table summarizing the main characters and the actors who play them:
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Lana | Brooke Shields |
| Emma | Miranda Cosgrove |
| Will | Benjamin Bratt |
| Lucas | Chad Michael Murray |
| RJ | Sean Teale |
Filming Location
Mother of the Bride’s destination wedding was filmed on location in Thailand at the Anantara Mai Khao and Anantara Layan resort hotels on Phuket. Bratt remarked, "The best thing about this job was it never felt like work. As a troupe of actors, we were like a circus crew, all off on a great adventure together."
Read also: "Married to Evil": Chad Graves
Reception
Benjamin Lee from The Guardian gave the film a score of two out of five, noting, "It's a slight cut above just how very bad these things can get, but not enough to edge it toward something that would deserve your full attention."
Overall, "Mother of the Bride" aims to deliver a lighthearted and enjoyable viewing experience, blending humor with heartfelt moments.
Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence
Popular articles:
tags: #Chad
