Wedding Wars (TV 2006)

After a gay party planner discovers his brother is behind the governor's speech against gay marriage, he decides to go on strike for equal rights.

Director:

Jim Fall

Writer:

Stephen Mazur

Stars:

John Stamos, Eric Dane, Bonnie Somerville

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Stamos	...	Shel Grandy
Eric Dane	...	Ben Grandy
Bonnie Somerville	...	Maggie Welling
Sean Maher	...	Ted Moore
Rosemary Dunsmore	...	Claire Welling
Jayne Eastwood	...	Wanda Grandy
Linda Kash	...	Mrs. Fairfield
Sean McCann	...	Verne Grandy
James Brolin	...	Governor Conrad Welling
Lee Smart	...	Casper Tisdale
Doug Barron	...	Matt Wildman
Suzanne Hawkins	...	Katie Gonzales
Rejean Cournoyer	...	Ken Caldwell
John Beale	...	News Show Host
Matt Gordon	...	Wayne

Storyline

A comic take on the issue of gay marriage, "Wedding Wars" asks the question: What would happen if every gay person in America suddenly went on strike? An argument between two brothers inadvertently triggers the strike, and it's up to the siblings to solve their differences before the entire country is shut down in this outrageous comedy that explores gay rights, equal treatment under the law, and what it means to be a brother.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | strike | gay marriage | equal rights | governor | 

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Taglines:

His brother is out. His wedding is off. The war is on.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

A&E TV

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wedding March

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Storyline Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Throughout the majority of the movie, the character Ted states that he is a prosecutor for the state, specifically, an Assistant District Attourney. However, the first time we are introduced to Ted in the beginning of the movie, he is in the courtroom at the defense table, and says something to the effect of "the defense does not object to..." before leaving to take a call from Shel. (In the DVD version, Ted is at the prosecution table and the line is now "The prosecution does not object to the defense's motion...".)

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Connections

References Network (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Cannon"
Written by Johann Pachelbel

User Reviews

The Birth of a Gay Activist

Wedding Wars is one of the first attempts to look at the same sex marriage struggle on a political level albeit it is done in a slyly humorous vein.

John Stamos an openly gay man is a wedding planner and he's about to perform a labor of love, he's to organize the wedding of his brother who is marrying the daughter of the governor of his state. That governor is James Brolin who in his campaign for re-election has come out against same sex marriage.

The important thing to remember here is Brolin is a fairly liberal fellow, but sees where the political current is running and decides not to swim against it. Stamos is upset with this turn of events though by someone who had been held out to him as gay friendly and decides to do something about it.

He stages his own one man strike and his withdrawal from the wedding and picketing of the governor's mansion soon gets a lot of media attention. He doesn't win the immediate political war, but he does win the renewed love and respect from friends and family, including a brother who's life was made miserable by all the fuss.

There are many things that can birth a political activist, nothing quite succeeds as when an issue involving who you are and the limits placed on your rights because of it, hits one unexpectedly. Stamos does not play a gay stereotype, he could easily have opted for that. His character grows and develops in proportion to the political awareness.

Wedding Wars succeeds in delivering the message that rights and respect are not won from the closet. It's a nice made for TV film with a timeless message.