MOVIE REVIEW
Backyard Wedding
Network: Hallmark Channel
Original Air Date: January 22, 2011
CAST:
Alicia Witt ... Kim Tyler
Teddy Sears ... Evan Slauson
Frances Fisher ... Eleanor
Markie Post ... Aunt Addie
Harry Murphy ... Jack
Christie Lynn Smith ... Kayla Tyler
Amanda Tepe ... Amanda
Ryan Bittle ... Jeffrey Blake
Steve Tom ... Ben Blake
Stefan Marks ... Mr. Bradford
Megan Ashley ... 14-year-old Kim
Michele Specht ... Dori
PLOT:
from the Hallmark Channel:
One bride finds out that getting to the altar is a long journey—even when it’s in her own backyard!
Kim Tyler (Witt) grew up loving her next-door neighbor, Evan Slauson (Sears). Their fairy-tale romance and young elopement seemed like fate, until they realized they both wanted different things, and got a swift annulment. Now, four years later, Kim, a med school graduate, is getting remarried to responsible, stable businessman Jeffrey (Bittle), who is the complete opposite of reckless, adventurous Evan. Kim’s doting parents, Eleanor (Fisher) and Jack (Harry Murphy, “Charlie Wilson’s War”), are planning an extravagant wedding for their daughter in their backyard. Kim’s beloved Aunt Addie (Markie Post, “Night Court”) offers her support as Eleanor and Jack stop at nothing to give Kim the beautiful event they have always dreamed of, barring the feud they have with the Slausons, who still live next door.
But when Kim returns home to help in the final week of planning, she runs into Evan, who is coincidentally visiting his parents during the same week. As they bump into each other more and more, Kim sees how much they have both changed over the years, and starts to question her feelings. Then, on the night before the wedding, Jeffrey and Kim get into a huge fight, and Kim finds herself running to Evan for comfort. With time running out before her beautiful backyard wedding, Kim has to decide which groom she will meet at the altar, and whether a first love can ever be forgotten.
Movie Review:
This movie could have been sweet and family friendly, but within the first 5 minutes we see the bride-to-be, Kim, laying on a bed, with her fiance nearby working, and it is made all too clear that they are living together.
To me, that ruined the rest of the movie. How was I supposed to be excited about her discovering who her real love is - when she is already with her fiance?
Anyway, Kim, the bride-to-be, returns home because her dream is to have a Backyard Wedding at her childhood home where she grew up. Her father is arguing with their neighbor, who just happens to be the father of Kim's first love, Evan... oh, and by the way - they were already married, too - but they had it annulled.
Evan, just so happens, to return home, at this same time. He is working now with some project to keep water cleaner. Everything with the wedding plans, seems to keep going wrong, especially since the groom is to busy with work to even show up. Everytime Kim is upset, it seems like she turns around - and Evan is there. They meet one time at this bridge over this lovely stream of water and fountains and Evan tells Kim that it will be torn down. She is disappointed in this news and asks him if this is some sort of historical landmark. But it isn't, I guess. I thought for sure Evan would save the day and the fountains would be saved, but the subject is never mentioned again.
Also, throughout the movie, there is a lot of drinking. I imagined there might be a little wine drinking at the Wedding events, but there was a lot more than that. When Kim's brother returns home, I noticed he practically made a bee line, after coming through the door with his wife and new baby, to the fridge for a bottle, that looked very much like a beer. They also go drinking at a bar with friends. And, on the night before her wedding, Kim drinks herself drunk and doesn't even know what took place between her and Evan that night. (by the way, he was a gentleman.)
SPOILER:
The ending is predictable, too. The fathers make up after years of not getting along. Evan and Kim finally realize and decide they were made for each other... and she finally gets her dream - a backyard wedding!
See or Skip:
Skip for family viewing. See, if you love romantic movies and the plot sounds interesting to you.
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