The Perfect Wedding

This understated indie film features an ensemble of unknown actors in a slow-building family drama with lighter moments.

While the focus is on the blossoming gay love triangle, there are hints of trouble in the others' lives too. Emotional subtleties are allowed to develop at a pace that respects the very real truths unfolding and the almost European level of vulnerability between characters.

The palette is muted throughout, likely from budgetary constraints, but it works to keep the focus on the actors. The Florida setting allows for casual outdoor scenes and a few shots of great natural beauty.

This film will never set the world on fire but it has a lot of heart. It knows what's really important, in family, in weddings, and at Christmas

"The Perfect Wedding" is a film for select viewers, as the main characters in the film are gay and it's clearly a gay romantic film. However, if you are open-minded you're sure to have a terrific time watching this very sweet film. The movie is not a big-budget Hollywood release though despite its humble origins and relatively cost, it does deliver because of the writing as well as some of the acting--particularly by James Rebhorn (in one of his last films) and the very handsome Eric Aragon.

Eric (Aragon) is coming home for Christmas...not just because of the holiday but so that the family can plan the wedding for his sister, Alana. However, one of the guests coming as well is a very uncomfortable one for Eric...his former lover...a man he clearly wronged due to his infidelity and alcoholism. Eric has been clean and sober but this is still going to be a difficult situation. It's also difficult for his -ex...so difficult he recruits a friend to come along and pretend to be his steady boyfriend. However, soon friend finds himself falling for Eric and vice-versa...a very, very difficult and messy situation! Eric clearly does NOT want to continue hurting people and works to avoid this...but there are definite sparks. How does this as well as the wedding work out in this romantic film?

The film is well worth seeing...and I recommend you check Netflix to see if it's still streaming. My only reservations are that the film is not perfectly polished and 'big'...but who really needs that if the romance works so well like it does in this one?!

By the way, if you are wondering, when the film was made in 2012, gay marriage was not legally recognized in Florida. And, if you are wondering, yes, Sarasota, Florida (the location where the film was shot) IS paradise...and I enjoyed seeing that a nice film was made only a few minutes from my house.

I loved loved loved this movie. I thought it was quite well written. One of my favorite things about the film was the multiple story lines that were balanced perfectly. Everyone had a fair shot to tell their story. And the central love story was simply amazing. I caught myself crying many times. I really loved this movie. So much better than your typical gay-themed movie.

My very favorite thing about this movie was that it used a device that author Connie Willis calls that "hat trick" or "hat joke." What that means is that a line or set of lines is repeated throughout the story-line but in different ways, changing the meaning, and intensifying it.

I would have given it a 10 but some of the acting was only so-so. Lead actor Eric Aragon was one of those so-so actors--sometimes he was GOOD and sometimes he was just okay. But he tried hard and he was SO much better than a lot actors in a LOT of gay movies that I've seen. I also dearly loved sweet Jason T. Gaffney. He brought so much to his role.

I was surprised at how awesome Kristine Sutherland (of Buffy fame) was. She knocked it out of the park. And of course James Rebhorn was excellent, as always.

Everyone was gorgeous. Esp Eric Aragon, Jason Gaffney, and Roger Stewart. Yes, the scene with Eric in the towel might be considered gratuitous, but I would watch this over and over for that scene! LOL!

Beautiful romantic movie!! We need more movies with gay characters like this one where the fact that their gay is just a part of who they are, showing we're just regular people! I'll be watching for these people in the future!

From the judgment of this film, being gay is not a matter of concern at all. Maybe in ten or twenty years' time this can come to be true. According to the movie, it's not a problem at all being gay. Not a sole character states any concern about it, and the loves of the gay triangle happening in the film could very well be a straight one. Only it would be hard to accommodate the situation with only three people. Taking that of, the film turns out to be very pleasurable, making you laugh as well as cry. We must forget the environment of reality. For instance, how could Gavin go to the bus station without anyone noticing, and how did he get there if no car was available. These questions abound throughout the movie, but they didn't take that smile from your face. It's a film made to pleasure, and it certainly does. No major conflict, just the usual misunderstandings of a romcom. The actors play well, and being a group of chunks doesn't make the movie less enjoyable, that's for sure. A film for all audiences. Hey straight people, that's how to look and behave toward gays, OK?

It was so cute and sweet without being flamboyant or over the top like so many gay themed movies are. It also lacked the 'drowning in angst' that is the other extreme for gay movies, where it seems like there is simply no upside to being gay and all you can do is hate yourself before you commit suicide or die of a drug overdose. It wasn't just the romance I liked, though - I also liked the straight sister's fiancé and her little wedding in the backyard, and the parents dealing with a family medical issue. I understand why some people wouldn't like it, because they equate 'cute' with 'sappy'. And that's fine. But for anyone who likes cute and sweet and a little fluffy, I'd highly recommend this film. You can find it on Netflix to stream.