Beautiful Wedding – Movie Review and Summary

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Plot Summary

With a rushed wedding and a just as impetuous decision to honeymoon in Mexico, the three-month whirlwind romance between Travis and Abby continues to be as volatile as ever. But, while in Mexico, once the high of a sudden marriage dissipates, and Abby starts questioning if an annulment should be done, so begins the back and forth between whether this marriage was too soon, if this relationship can last, or maybe they should just call it quits?

Content Information

• Dialog: Cursing
• Violence: Fight Scenes, Blood, Implied Animal Violence (Rooster Fights)
• Sexual Content: Nudity, Sexual Situations (Implied)
• Miscellaneous: Drinking, Vomiting

General Information

Director(s)	Roger Kumble
Screenplay By	Roger Kumble
Based On Work By	Jamie McGuire
Date Released	January 25, 2024
How To Watch	In Theaters
Genre(s)	Comedy Romance Young Adult
Film Length	1 Hour 40 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated R
Noted Characters and Cast
Travis	Dylan Sprouse
Abby	Virginia Gardner
America	Libe Barer
Shepley	Austin North

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Travis (Dylan Sprouse)

Set aside are his dreams of being a fighter, for he is married and trying to make his wife happy. However, it is a bit of a struggle since making an “I” into a “We,” beyond the ways you can make that cute, is a challenge.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Banana Split.”

Abby (Virginia Gardner)

Newly married but still carrying issues her father caused, Abby is ready to annul her marriage within a day of being married and is looking for reasons to justify ending things with Travis.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Fall.”

America (Libe Barer)

Like Abby and Travis, America finds herself uncertain about her relationship, and it leads her to have the same back and forth as Abby, just without a marriage certificate complicating things.

Shepley (Austin North)

With America questioning their relationship and trying to avoid being a third wheel in Travis and Abby’s interactions, Shepley finds it challenging to enjoy Mexico.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Outer Banks.”

Review

Let us know your thoughts in the comments:

1. What were some of your favorite things about the first movie?

Low Points

A Lot Of What Made The First Movie Interesting Is Gone

Does Travis fight in “Beautiful Wedding?” Yes. But only when he is enraged by Abby going onto a topless beach to spite him, and he thinks everyone is ogling at his wife.

What about Sprouse’s charm? Well, in terms of that and the chemistry he had with Gardner in the original film? That feels stripped down. How and why? Well, because the depth the first film had regarding her relationship with her father, Travis coming from a big family who lost the matriarch when he was a kid, a lot of what gave some sense of these two being complicated people? Yeah, that doesn’t exist in this film.

Travis, in this film, is diminished to an insecure young adult, who knows he can fight, has the size to please, and knows that, while prickly, he is charming enough for Abby to continually be on the hook. As for Abby? Yes, it is great she isn’t pushing some toxic feminist speeches, but absent that and the saga with her dad being over for now, there is a question of what was supposed to be next for her? Where is her development as a character?

Shepley and America

When I tell you that Shepley and America were annoying, and I wish they stayed in the US, oh my god! For Shepley, watching him try to save roosters who are trained to fight and deciding to take them into his room and release them from their cages, leading to a battle royal, is the most ridiculous scene. Which, I believe, could make someone laugh, but all I could do was roll my eyes.

As for America? Honestly, there is a serious need to question who she is still. Yes, she is Shepley’s girlfriend, Abigail’s best friend, but who is she beyond that? That isn’t answered.

On The Fence

Nothing Is Presented That This Movie Needed To Be Made

“Beautiful Wedding” is the type of film where, despite it taking place over a few days, considering all the madness and drama, you’d think it was a week or more. Yet, nothing notable happens. Do Travis and Abby fight and make up repeatedly? Yes. However, by the end of the movie, it is clear that, with them barely knowing each other, that isn’t going to end. This can also be said for America and Shepley’s relationship.

Now, is that to say this film isn’t entertaining? No, it has its moments where the humor could make you laugh, especially since Sprouse delivers many comical moments, even if it is just him trying to assert dominance by showing he is swinging lower than anyone else. However, for a sequel, there doesn’t seem to be any maturing, advancement in story or character development, just the first assumingly being a big enough hit to garner a sequel, so here it is, even if it doesn’t build off the first movie, but rather exploit its reputation.

Good If You Like

• Messy young adult romances

Recommendations

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