Bridal Wave

So one of the most annoying parts of a gentle watch, and it's in almost every Hallmark movie yet it makes me angry every time, is that, at the very end, the two leads get engaged or married. They have often met at the beginning of the movie - a movie that spans two-four weeks of time (see Clara's A December Bride post). Maybe this is connected to my conflicted feelings about the institution of marriage or something like that, but really, why does the movie have to end in an engagement or wedding? There's always a big kiss and an exchange of affection, and that just seems like it should be enough. Why is it that audiences need a wedding? Let these people live!

But you know what friends, here is a movie that doesn't end with a ridiculously fast proposal and marriage after meeting four days earlier. The final scene makes you think it will, and seeing a bride and groom is meant to confuse, but then, low and behold, "One Year Later" pops up on the screen. Like sensible people, they waited a whole year! Shocking!

Clara and I found this movie while combing the shelves at the Northeast Branch Public Library and you know what, it's actually kind of a good movie. Definitely at the top of the Hallmark rankings. First of all, it takes place somewhere on the San Juan Islands, but there is an establishing shot of Seattle as the home of our leads. But it's not the normal establishing shot - skyline, Space Needle, red cranes - no, it's of the corner of 4th and Olive, or, the old Seattle Times building. Not a particularly strong establishing shot; not even a very Northwesty shot to set the scene. Clara's eagle eye spotted it and we had to rewind and confirm, but there it was, the building that now holds the Mariners store and the Mayflower Hotel.

This shot, except way closer so it was even harder to recognize

I love this, and the Pacific Northwest seems to be a hotspot for Hallmark romances, but seriously Hallmark? THIS is the establishing shot of your movie? Nobody knows this building. We've both lived here most of our lives and had to rewind and debate if it was Seattle or not.

Falling love while looking at the Pacific is ideal

But, back to the actual movie. Quick summary: our leading lady, Georgie, is engaged to a wealthy plastic surgeon (who she works for), and, while on her way to an unnamed San Juan Island for the wedding, she meets Luke in the ferry line. They banter, sparks fly, but then they part ways. Of course, they meet again at the resort where he lives next door in a beautiful house right on the water. He built the house himself after leaving behind the high power, high stress world of being a handsome architect.

Georgie and Luke get thrown together on multiple occasions and clearly they have chemistry, more chemistry than her doctor fiance. Also, this fiance's mother is terrifying and played by Jaclyn Smith, so, win-win.

Except you know, thirty years older. But still fabulous

What I liked about Bridal Wave is that it's actually kind of believable. It's refreshing that there's no big blowup, no madcap miscommunication, no one is left at the alter feeling spurned. There's an almost kiss and an appropriate reaction when Georgie realizes what she's doing. And then she and her fiance have an adult conversation about how neither of them are actually happy and they shouldn't get married. They've been dating because it's comfortable and it all paints a very pretty picture.

My face when adults act like adults in romantic comedies

There are, of course, some fake outs, and love is declared after only a few days, but, after they get a big kiss, Georgie and Luke DON'T IMMEDIATELY get married! The movie cuts to a year later, where they are getting married, but still, A WHOLE YEAR! Semi-realistic!

There's also a B-story line about how big hotel chains are ruining small towns and beautiful views, but the growing coastal development and destruction of the environment are not what gentle watches are all about.

Alright, ratings.

Cheese Rating: Actually pretty low. This has the typical cheese of a romantic comedy, but what was enjoyable about it was that it wasn't super cheesy.

Wine Rating: This gets a lot of wine glasses. Good chemistry between the leads, pretty locations, and was one of our first gentle watches. It made us want to watch other movies like this, and it's quite possible that no gentle watch (movies, not TV) has lived up to this one.

Hot Men: Handsome, slightly generic, but also kind of Northwesty, which is nice and fitting for the location. I can't find any pictures of any serious plaid, but, still not to shabby.

A December Bride

The last of our Christmas movies finally came in from the library. A December Bride, starring Daniel Lissing from When Calls the Heart.

The mountie uniform is better, but this will do

Like most of these movies it had some pretty dumb parts but still managed to be passably charming.  But also like a lot of these movies, the most annoying thing is that the dumb parts could so easily have been fixed.

So first the basic premise: Layla has to attend a December wedding between her ex-fiancee and her cousin. She goes to the wedding with her friend Seth (Lissing), who she is mad at because he introduced the couple. For plot reasons, they end up lying to everyone and saying they are engaged. While pretending to be engaged they fall in love.

One thing that I've learned about myself watching all these cheesy romance movies is that I'm a sucker for a fake couple who ends up falling in love, so in general I'm totally down. But the really ridiculous part is how short the timeline is.  It is fine for a couple to develop a connection in a couple weeks but THEY DON'T NEED TO GET ENGAGED AND/OR MARRIED DURING THAT TIME.

We find out early in the movie that one of the additional reasons Layla is so sad at her ex-fiancee's wedding, is that it is in December, and she had always dreamed of being...wait for it...A December Bride.

So when she and Seth are faking their engagement, everyone is extra excited because now she might end up as A December Bride. Cool cool cool. That could happen. They could get married a year or even two years from when the movie takes place.

But part of the way through the movie it becomes clear that everyone wants them to get married THIS DECEMBER. Like, THE SAME MONTH THAT THIS MOVIE TAKES PLACE. Everyone seems unaware that DECEMBER WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

To pressure the main character into this idea, her aunt has her try on her late mother's wedding dress. Which is clearly just a regular, modern, strapless wedding dress.

LIES. FASHION HISTORY LIES.

ANYWAY when Seth and Layla finally do realize they are in love with each other they immediately get engaged and then IT CUTS TO THEIR WEDDING which by all indications is the SAME MONTH THE MOVIE STARTED.

Ok rating time.

Cheese rating: Three out of five wedges of cheese. Basically regular Hallmark fare.

Wine rating: Two and a half out of five glasses of wine. Had some basic charm, and extra points for the guy being the one one who learns a lesson about needing to work less and "get his priorities straight" whereas the woman is celebrated for career success. 

Hot men: Aforementioned charm machine Daniel Lissing would have chemistry with a candy cane. He is excellent at the required rom-com "I'm having such a great time with you because I'm so in love with you smile"

Quality stuff, although doesn't hold a candle to the "I'm in love with you and I'm really tortured about it" grimace required for any good period movie.