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Our Family Wedding (2010) doesn't look likely to break any serious ground, but given its stellar, even unlikely cast, it could well snag the romantic comedy crown most recently sported by Valentine's Day (2010) when it opens on March 12. The film stars America Ferrera of the just-canceled Ugly Betty (TV) as Lucia, and Lance Gross as Marcus, a young couple who announce their decision to marry to their disbelieving families.
Why disbelieving? Well, she's Latina and he's African American, for starters. And they're so young. And it's so darn fast. And the news was delivered so abruptly. But, really, it's because she's Latina and he's African American.
Most put out are the respective dads and prospective fathers-in-law, Miguel (Carlos Mencia) and Brad (Forest Whitaker). The two men don't exactly hit it off, which creates all kinds of trouble. It doesn't help matters that in addition to the culture and class clashes, their personalities are entirely different. Miguel is a traditionalist and long married to his wife (Diana Maria Riva), while Brad is a high-living bachelor too busy and distracted to notice that his best friend (Regina King) adores him.
Meanwhile, other members of both families attempt to exert varying degrees of influence on the couple and the in-the-works wedding and reception. Lucia's mom, for example, gets busy planning the wedding of her dreams, all but forgetting that it's her daughter and not her tying the knot. All the requisite wedding-flick shenanigans will no doubt be included, among them a meet-the-parents meal, a trip to buy a dress, and arguments over the cake. One new wrinkle that could generate major chuckles or even more major groans if not pulled off successfully? A goat hopped up on Viagra.
Ferrera is a wonderful, natural actress, and it's nice to see her as the leading lady in a mainstream studio film. It'll be exciting to see what kind of chemistry she and relative newcomer Gross generate. Likewise, it should be fun to watch Oscar-winning dramatic actor Whitaker tackle comedy and funnyman Mencia trying his hand at some of Our Family Wedding's quieter moments. So, while Our Family Wedding -- directed by Rick Famuyiwa, whose credits include The Wood (1999) and Brown Sugar (2002) -- doesn't exactly have originality on its side, it's got a winsome cast that just might be able to guide it down the aisle to a happy and prosperous union between movie and audience.
So, who's got a bouquet?
