Wedding Bells

This Hallmark romance includes common themes and familiar tropes. And the ending can be seen from a mile away. But that does not automatically make the film a dud or a disaster.

As usual in a Hallmark production, the settings are beautiful. And the two leads, Danica McKellar and Kevan Smith, work well together. As hoped for in a romance, there are moments of tearjerking fueled by nostalgia and tenderness.

What makes this film enjoyable, more than anything else, is the performance by Danica. Especially in the final scenes, she really sells the emotions that are the crux of the film. Bruce Boxleitner, as the father of Kevan, also deserves mention for playing the crusty oldster with a protected heart of gold without overdoing it. He adds just the correct amount of "distraction" to the central relationship.

Molly Quinn (Danica McKellar) is the maid of honor for her best friend Amy. Amy is marrying James. His best man is Nick Turner (Kavan Smith). Nick is a chef and Molly is not a fan of his cooking. The wedding has to be canceled when Amy's father loses his money to a crook. There may be a solution with Nick's estranged father Charlie (Bruce Boxleitner).

The movie suggests such animus between Nick and his father but it does not deliver. Without it, there is no real tension. Of course, no tension is the hallmark of Hallmark. The fighting between Molly and Nick has no real danger either. The difficulty comes when their relationship generates little to no heat. It's all very low stakes and it comes off bland. Danica McKellar is a good romantic lead. Boxleitner has more to give. This is pretty flat.

My favorite is "Let it Snow", but this comes in a close second! I have always loved Danica and was hoping she could pull off a great Hallmark movie, in all her others she way over acted and I was disappointed. This one was perfect! Her chemistry with Kavan is off the charts. The only thing I did not like about the movie was the senseless break up, they should have just put in more chemistry moments between the two of them and had them get married that day, everything was all set up! Duh!! Please release this one on DVD, if not I will just keep it stored on my DVR forever to watch it over and over again!!!

We thought we had already seen this, but then realized we didn't, so we watched it. I'm trying to NOT read reviews or look at ratings until the end so my review is not tainted by some of the reckless reviews along with the positive one.

The end of the movie came and as I went to IMDB to rate and review I realized that I had favorited Danica and Kavan.

Now, back to my review title...the except. What made me rate this 10 are the two leads. Danica and Kavan were great and their chemistry was palpable, it was so good. I'm way past reviewing movies because of "double dipping" "brow furrowing" or other trivial personal matters like that, though we all have our own personal tastes, constraints and restraints.

Yea, the story was your typical HM movie, there's the script and rhythm which are Hallmark movies, but it always boils down to the characters and their chemistry. I'll watch anything with these two in it.

2016 was a hit and miss year for Hallmark, likewise with all the subsequent years too. With winners such as 'Love in Paradise', 'Love on the Sidelines', 'Tulips in Spring', 'Summer Villa' and 'Journey Back to Christmas'. But also some duds such as 'Ms Matched', 'Unleashing Mr Darcy', 'Dater's Handbook', 'The Convenient Groom' and 'A December Bride'. Am not always a fan of Danica McKellar, who tends to be typecast and whose acting tends to be more of the same to a varying degree.

Despite having initial issues with her character, she does come off well here and 'Wedding Bells' comes off well as an overall film. Not one of the very best 2016 Hallmark films, but closer to being one of the winners than one of the duds and for me it is one of the better 2016 June Weddings films easily (which was not a good batch on the whole that year). 'Wedding Bells' may not be a great film and has a few issues, but it also has a lot of worthwhile things executed well.

Starting off with what doesn't quite come off, McKellar's character does take time to warm to with the whining in the early stages going overboard.

Like a lot of Hallmark films, the ending is too pat. Did feel as well that the secondary relationship was too much of a mismatch.

Once her character became more interesting and likeable, McKellar fully relaxes and gives a very winning performance full of charm and energy. Kavan Smith matches her very well and his performance is likeable and easy going, nothing looking stiff or forced. Their chemistry always looks natural and genuine and didn't have any real problem with how it was written and developed. The supporting cast are solid and while they are cliched the characters weren't annoyances or bores, with the only reservations being with McKellar's early on.

Furthermore, 'Wedding Bells' looks good with lovely scenery and the music doesn't distract tonally or in placement. The script isn't cheesy or schmaltzy and flows well, while the story even though very formulaic is very sweet (without being overly so) and light hearted with a nice energy going on.

Concluding, not great but good and one of the few above average 2016 June Weddings films. 7/10.