Expectations were extremely mixed for 'Wedding at Graceland'. Wes Brown is one of those always worth watching leading men, one of the more consistent Hallmark male regulars, despite too many times where he is much better than the film itself. There are quite a number of decent and more 2019 Hallmark films. What dampened expectations were Kellie Pickler, who has never been a good actress, and how Hallmark does not have the best of track records when it comes to wedding-themed films.
'Wedding at Graceland' doesn't change that track record, if anything it reinforces it. It also certainly doesn't change my opinion of Pickler, who is as bad as she was in 'Christmas at Graceland' (which is just as bad a film but marginally worse perhaps). When it comes to Hallmark's wedding-themed films, while not one of the absolute worst (i.e. 'Beverly Hills Wedding') it is in the lower end and this is not being said with pleasure.
Lets start with the good. The best thing about it is Brown, who is charismatic and charming in the way that the rest of the cast weren't. Close behind are the production values, especially the lovely setting that the camera was clearly in love with.
Some of the music is not bad and has a nice nostalgia, likewise with the singing.
Pickler however is terrible, both trying too hard and is painfully stiff, it was pretty uncomfortable to watch her. Of the rest of the cast, the only other one to stand out in a bad way is a very stiff and over compensating Priscilla Presley in a very annoying role that gets old fast. Only Brown stands out of the cast and to me there wasn't enough warmth or emotional connection in the chemistry between him and Pickler, which badly undermines the romantic angle of the story. Which in itself was not developed enough. The direction tends to be pedestrian and only Brown's character was likeable or interesting. Presley's especially irritated.
Also risible is the excessively cheesy and repetitive script, that goes well overkill on the childishness and cutesiness, the Momzilla antics got on my nerves very, very quickly. The story is paper thin and has no surprises, charm, fun or heart whatsoever. Much of it drags as a result of stretching the thin material out too much and the middle act is just cringe-worthy beyond words. The ending is too neat and could easily have happened earlier than it did.
Very weak all in all. 3/10.
