The Professional Bridesmaid

Ugh. Worst lead actor and actress. I love Hallmark movies but some are really great and some are really bad. This one was cringe-worthy although I did watch it until the end but that's just my personality. The two leads were incredibly awkward together. I feel like the characters were supposed to be a little awkward with one another but this just felt like extreme awkwardness and bad acting. There were so many pauses in the dialogue that I think I spent 75% of the movie rolling my eyes. A couple of the other actresses could use some acting lessons as well I think. Not every actor is meant to be a lead.

Professional bridesmaid Maggie Bailey (Hunter King) is trying to expand her business. Her friend tells her about the mayor's daughter Alexis having her wedding in two weeks. She has to move into the mayoral mansion, be a secret, and be on call 24/7. The mayor has an election in two months and needs a problem-free event for the press. Serious reporter Henry Whittington (Chandler Massey) is new at a lighter magazine assigned to have an all-access pass to the wedding planning although he is desperate for harder news.

I expected Hunter King to be a professional bridesmaid by accident. I didn't know that this job is a thing. I don't see this working unless the bride is a loner trying to have fake friends. I doubt that any bride would like a stranger in all her wedding photos. The premise is so fake that it takes a minute to adjust to it. The secrecy thing is a problem without reason. Maggie could simply be the new wedding planner without all the unnecessary lies.

Once the audience ignores the story, it becomes a silly Hallmark movie. Henry uncovering the secret is also a little silly. There has to be some results for Maisie Ryder. Google returns half a million results. It is a little fun for Henry to do some mystery solving, but the mystery shouldn't have been there in the first place.

The professional bridesmaid angle is close but slightly different from the wedding planner premise. The overall flow of the movie follows this plot thread. It includes the requirement that she keep the big Secret of her identity. The other part of the premise is an investigative reporter sent to cover the wedding. This premise usually leads inevitably to a certain conflict near the end, but not here which I found refreshing. Henry was only mildly annoying in his reporter persona which allowed him to be likeable on the whole. Another thing I found refreshing was skipping the usual initial antagonism between the leads. Henry and Maggie/Maise met and engaged nicely with one another.

Some of the elements used for mild tension in the heart of the movie are a little weak. We're told the mayor can't be confronted by Henry because the electorate will be evenly divided no matter what stance he takes on the park. Unlikely. More like his campaign doners' interests will be contrary to the majority of the public. And then there's Chloe. Her thread is just a mess with some unlikely details also.

Another minor twist is the source of the inspiration for the resolution of the Conflict which results inevitably for obvious reasons.

The acting is decent. Hunter King and Chandler Massey have chemistry. Other players did their part but I can't decide whether Lillian Doucet-Roche succeeded as Chloe deliberately or just fell into the portrayal of this sadly confused woman. The dialogue is decent but not sparkling. This movie lacked an opportunity for Hallmark's signature scenery.

I rate this movie slightly on the high side of my average for this genre because of the unexpected plot lines and because of Hunter King as the appealing Maggie.

As usual, user reviews are somewhat split on this one...some like it, some don't. Personally I totally unimpressed. I've asked before (rhetorically of course) why every Hallmark movie I've ever watched was based on an outright lie, an identity concealment, or the invention of a goofy and mostly unbelievable line of work. I'll close with an opinion I'm sure will be very unpopular with some, but what writers keep creating leading men who are so dense, whiney and gullible! (no reflection on the actor). There doesn't seem to be many normal male characters lately...just men who are weak, misogynistic, not very bright, and/or bumbling idiots who behave as if they've never spoken to a woman before. Lol.

The first thing that occurred to me on this is how much Hunter King looks like Rachael Leigh Cook.

As the story progressed, of course it was pretty formula for Hallmark, but I thought it was pretty well put together. There were the right amount of mishaps. There was just enough tears to go with the laughter. And I think it was just enough short of sappy to be a good way to spend a couple of hours.

Peter Benson has managed to successfully navigate the course from bit part, to old boyfriend, to leading man, and now does an admirable job as director.

It isn't Oscar worthy, but only because it wasn't striving for greatness. It's what is expected from a Hallmark movie of the week, which is wholesome entertainment which leaves you with a smile on your face while not forgetting to show a bit of real heart. 9/10.