Netflix's conveniently-timed spring escapism slate continues with their latest romantic comedy Love Wedding Repeat. Like he did with both versions of Death at a Funeral, Love Wedding Repeat sees writer/director Dean Craig telling a story about civility quickly making way for chaos at a massive gathering. The man of honor (Joel Fry) gets accidently drugged with a highly potent sleeping medication, the brother (Sam Claflin) of the bride (Eleanor Tomlinson) discovers that the ex-girlfriend (Frieda Pinto) he loathes along with her current boyfriend (Allan Mustafa) are seated next to him at the reception and an uninvited, coked-up guest (Jack Farthing) suddenly arrives after the ceremony with the sole intention of professing his love for the new bride. Now, it's up to the bride and her brother from preventing these potentially debilitating obstacles from completely derailing what was supposed to be an idyllic day in a picture-esque Roman castle.
For a movie that plays with the concept of how unforeseen variables can dramatically alter the outcome of an event, Love Wedding Repeat is surprisingly safe and predictable. Almost all of the hiccups as well as the fallout that stem from them can be telegraphed from a mile away and the few creative bits that do come along don't amount to much of anything in the bigger picture. Not even a resetting of the event that served as the start of the chaotic domino effect that occurs in the last 35 minutes can liven up the flat approach Craig takes in fleshing out a premise that should've been a rock solid jumping off point to make something really creative.
While its failure to capitalize on a golden opportunity to subvert the genre is disappointing, Love Wedding Repeat is still a hard movie to hate. There's a handful of really funny moments, the likable cast shows up to play (especially Claflin, Fry and Olivia Munn as the love interest of Claflin's character) and the scenery in/around the Italian castle in which this was filmed is breathtaking to look at. When the storytelling falls flat, pleasant characters and some laughs are usually enough to yield some positive returns in the world of romantic comedies.
Love Wedding Repeat isn't likely to become a widely celebrated entry in this time-tested genre. It's not the next The Big Sick, Long Shot or even Set It Up. However, it's a warm offering that gets just enough right to work. Throw this shit on a Sunday afternoon if you're feeling like watching something lighthearted and mindless, and chances are you'll come out satisfied.
Grade: B-
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