Cheerful Weather for the Wedding

Ah, the British! They have their eccentricities that have been providing fodder for little films for years - from the great stories of EM Forster, Evelyn Waugh, Julian Fellowes et al to the little dramadies such as this one written by director Donald Rice with Mary Henely-Magill, CHEERFUL WEATHER FOR THE WEDDING. They come off best when the odd class-oriented families take themselves seriously, covering their narrow view of the world of civility with accents so thick and rapidly delivered that without subtitles it is difficult to follow the script! But they are enchanting, especially when delivered by a cast of superb actors who are able to enter these odd characters' psyches and make us titter while we endure their snobbishness.

This film is meticulously presented and is both a celebration of English eccentricity and an understated examination of how families often do everything they can to avoid saying how they really feel. Dolly Thatcham (Felicity Jones) is to be married to the wealthy Owen (James Norton) after a very brief engagement: Dolly delays her preparations for the ceremony by drinking rum upstairs as she has flashbacks to her real romance a summer ago with the young professor Joseph Patten (Luke Treadaway) whom Dolly has invited to the wedding (to her mother's (Elizabeth McGovern) chagrin and Joseph waits downstairs with the entire bizarre family and friends awaiting Dolly's descent to proceed to the church. The story is interrupted with all manner of subplots including the strange behavior of Dolly's younger sister Kitty (Ellie Kendrick) who provides the audience with a naïveté that reveals so much about what everyone else is really thinking but just can't bring themselves to say.

Among the entertaining eccentrics having luncheon before the wedding are the bickering married couple (Fenella Woolgar and Mackenzie Crook) attempting to stop their son young Jimmy (Ben Greaves-Neil) from setting off little bombs throughout the house, aging but silly Aunt Bella (Barbara Flynn) seducing her chauffeur (Emil Lager), the perennial old maid Miss Spoon (Joanna Hole), the day's drunk Tom (Olly Alexander) and of course the only people about whom we care - the servants (Eva Traynor, Paola Dionisotti, Sophie Stanton, Kenneth Collard. The use of flashbacks to give us insight into Dolly's dilemma of marrying for convenience instead of for love is beautifully handled by creating a golden glow touch to the sequences from the past by cinematographer John Lee and a lovely musical score by Michael Price. And in a final farewell speech Joseph manages to put everything in its rightful place. It all works well, but put on the subtitles or you'll be in the dark.

Grady Harp

If you're looking for a nice romantic period drama, this isn't it. It's a great cast and could have been a 6 or 7/10, if the ending was more satisfying. Also, Felicity Jones was great, but as the character often appears sociopathic, odd and cold, it made it difficult to care about her.

We see very little of her fiancé, James Norton character, and nothing of their relationship. The only 'happiness' and romance was shown in flashbacks with Joseph, which made the ending even harder to like or understand. Joseph was compelling and held up the film, he was excellent. Shame about the story & sociopath lead character.

Inside a storm is brewing!

Director Donald Rice and writer Mary Henely-Magill have created a wonderful story about a collection of maybe stereotypical British characters gathered together at a grand country side estate for a wedding.

The bride, Dolly, realizes she's making a mistake to marry Luke because she still loves Joseph. Joseph shows up to hopefully rescue her from this mistake. But circumstance and the lack of courage in both leave both brokenhearted.

The house fills with silly and forceful characters that create a day of confusion and anger. This is a fun and thoughtful film for those who can tune into subdued British humor.

Just before I sat down to watch this movie I had painted a floor. Watching that dry would have been more interesting. I continued to watch as an exercise in masochism.

Maybe because I find the lead actress very unpleasant. She drank way to much and pretty much continuously. Never did really get who all the other people were, yes, a sister and a mother. Was the vicar the father? An annoying missionary guest. Assorted friends? Relatives?

My two stars go to the person(s) responsible for the selection of the house, the costumer, the overall period look which is achieved very nicely, including hairdos.

The viewer certainly understands the main points of the story. They don't have to be re-told over and over again, in flashbacks and from different characters. If these were real people I would not wish any of them well.

Dolly (Felicity Jones) is in her wedding gown, upstairs at her British mansion, in thought. Waiting on the first floor, where the ceremony will take place, is her fiancé, Owen (James Norton) and assorted guests. However, also in the crowd, is Felicity's former flame, Joseph (Luke Treadaway), whom she alone has invited. Last summer, just a few short months ago, they were in the throws of a "hot affair". Yet, things have cooled, as Joseph took off for Greece. Therefore, just why did Dolly invited Joe? Was it because she was uncertain whether she should marry Owen, in a hastily arranged nuptials, without seeing Joseph again? Her domineering mother, Hettie (Elizabeth McGovern) was hoping for a day without problems or hitches. Sister Kitty was just hoping to meet eligible young men. Now, will the wedding take place? This sad, very British stiff-upper-lip story, is one of the bleakest studies of love and marriage there could ever be. Its true, passions do go hot and cold and marriage is supposed to be forever, especially during the thirties when this tale takes place. One indeed must choose wisely but to secure that decision on ones own all important day is tragic indeed, especially for those left out. Aside from this, though, the film does have some funny moments and is gorgeous to view, with elaborate sets, costumes, and art direction. The cast, too, very large, with characters written for both upstairs and downstairs, is quite fine. If you adore well made films, are an Anglophile, like romantic dramas, or have a yen for Merchant-Ivory type pieces, this is the newest recommendation for you.