Sister of the Bride (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

Slightly fresh but not exceptional

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 1 September 2019]

A quiet but charming story. I saw two of the problem solutions coming but not the main one.

The relationship of the two main characters was a good one and occupied much of the screen time, which for me is important in this type movie. These two valued communication and respected one another completely. Becca Tobin presents her character as a very likable, intelligent and competent woman.

Dad was a pain and fortunately stopped just short of me hating him completely. I was initially put off by how long he thought was required before an engagement but I think that was intentionally exaggerated.

What happened to the photographer?

[joelirwin · 7/10 · 13 July 2019]

We have a scene where they hire a photographer. However, the photographer is nowhere to be seen at the wedding, especially at the ceremony.

Hallmark can deal with realistic problems too

[phd_travel · 6/10 · 25 August 2019]

A little different, this Hallmark movie isn't all sweetness and flowers. It deals with a rushed engagement and different priorities of a couple. Get to know one another first, it takes time. The couples are attractive and likeable. Didn't quite like that the guy has to sacrifice his career more than she does.

a departure from the typical hallmark formula

[sarajimi · 6/10 · 16 January 2020]

I liked that the story wasn't the typical, especially when they set up a few chances to do the expected but walked away from them. what kept me from giving it 7 stars was that the premise is hard to believe (who dreams of a wedding in palm springs on july 4th; the temperature's going to be over 110), the movie was obviously filmed in the non-summer, and for some reason in a few scenes the mom couldn't talk well - it was distracting. but I appreciate the efforts.

The older generation acts circles around the young actors.

[rightisright · 6/10 · 6 July 2019]

Beth Broderick and Michael Gross are great as the parents of two women who want to get married. Gross is especially fantastic playing the curmudgeonly dad. Becca Tobin is fine as the lead sister, but Ryan Rottman is dreadful as her fiance. Acting and vocal lessons, dude. Palm Springs makes for beautiful background scenery.

No expectations = ok movie

[MickyG333 · 7/10 · 23 August 2023]

7.0 stars.

Evidently a bunch of people who have critiqued this film had expectations for some reason. Maybe it's the lead actors, there's no doubt they are both very pretty people. The secondary cast are also very well adjusted actors. Michael Gross has a vast history of being in a multitude of random films and TV shows. He has proven his worth on screen. The plot is average however, the movie is enjoyable enough for me to give it a solid seven. I enjoyed the interactions between all the family members. The male lead trying to impress soon to be father-in-law is priceless. The setting is nice and the production value is sufficient. It's the charisma of all the actors that makes this a good film. Don't listen to or heed the previous reviews, go into this with no expectations and you might enjoy yourself.

A joyless engagement

[TheLittleSongbird · 2/10 · 2 June 2022]

This review is not coming from someone who regularly hates on Hallmark films and hates all of them. Have actually been surprised by many, and a lot of my ratings have indicated average and above. The premise to 'Sister of the Bride' though was not that appealing, but saw it anyway for Hallmark completest sake and also because of liking Becca Tobin and especially Michael Gross in other films and finding them redeeming qualities in those.

Neither sadly are redeeming qualities here, quite the opposite. 'Sister of the Bride' may not be among the worst that Hallmark ever did, but of their very inconsistent to not particularly output that year it is very close to being down there in my view. Despite being very formulaic sounding, the premise did actually have some potential. All that potential sadly is wasted in the film not executing most of its components well at all.

Only the beautiful scenery and some nice photography comes off well in 'Sister of the Bride'.

Everything else is a waste of time. Tobin tries too hard as a character who tries too eagerly to be as flawless as possible and it never looks natural, while Ryan Rottman is very stiff and uncharismatic. The chemistry between them just isn't there either, too much of a disconnect. Don't expect Gross to be a redeeming quality, he has been in a lot of bad films and can be a redeeming quality but he is wasted by a character that is so obnoxious and he tries so hard to make the character work but it comes over as over-compensating. Beth Broderick comes off least badly of the cast and even she lacks subtlety.

All the characters are difficult to connect with, none of them are developed that well and the film either tries to make the characters too perfect or exaggerates their flaws (both extremes are obvious here). The dialogue is very awkward sounding and cheesy throughout, the music is forgettable at best and can be overbearing, the direction is going through the motions like and the story is formulaic and drags on and on.

Pretty poor film and very little works other than the production values. 2/10.

Sweet and different hallmark movie.

[debbiech · 8/10 · 23 July 2019]

I truly don't understand all the hate for this movie. If you are a fan of Hallmark movies, then you will enjoy this. It's sweet. And a little different. Usually we get to see them meet, and fall in love within a span of a couple of weeks -this movie shows what happens after. The couple has already met. But they get a little bit of grief from the parents thinking that they're moving too fast. Kind of a nicer Meet The Focker's LOL the acting is lovely. I don't know what people are complaining about. It was an enjoyable two hours.

Not filmed in Vancouver, BC

[bonnersonlinepurchasing · 7/10 · 23 August 2022]

A horrible day for Hallmark to be sure! To film this in hot desert it could NOT be filmed in Vancouver, B. C. How terrifying!

Typical Hallmark easy-watching uplifting love story.

Palm Springs is beautiful!

[lydiajp · 4/10 · 4 July 2019]

That is the best thing I can say about this movie. The acting in this movies was pretty bad, the writing was even worse. It was very boring. Took me 5 evening to watch this. I have a lot of tolerance for the short comings of Hallmark movies but this one is the worst one I've seen.

Genuinely couldn't guess how this was going to play out!

[rebekahrox · 8/10 · 3 July 2019]

I really did enjoy this one mostly because I really did not see how they were going to solve the dilemma that was threatening main couple's relationship. Stephanie and Ben both had successful careers in Academia. Stephanie is on the brink of obtaining tenure as a professor at her college, and Ben had just won a prestigious position at Oxford University to work under his idol. They were either going to put their engagement on hold and separate to pursue their equally beloved careers, or one of them was going to have to sacrifice their dream and hard work and talents in order to be together. Being a Hallmark romance, putting their relationship on hold was unthinkable. But how were they going to resolve this? Personally, I was all "go to England, girl!" But I knew it was a bad idea for her big chance for tenure. and that would have sent a bad message, really.

The other conflict was with her father, played by Michael Gross. He didn't approve of the engagement because they had only dated 6 months. His behavior was contemptible. Very sulky and controlling in a passive-aggressive sort of way. A Grade "A" jerk. Then there was her sister, who had also gotten engaged to her boyfriend of 10 years and had a wedding to plan in less than a month. Then there was the parents selling the beloved family "vacation home" . Which was a McMansion in a subdivision in Palm Springs. Weird.

So there was a lot going on, and all of the threads were handled very well, with even a teeny tiny bit of humor thrown in. Becca Tobin was excellent and the actor who played her fiance was competent. Everyone else was likable (both actors and their characters) except the Michael Gross character who very annoying, as he was supposed to be, I guess.

low drama Hallmark

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 23 October 2019]

Ben (Ryan Rottman) proposes and Stephanie (Becca Tobin) accepts. They visit her parents (Michael Gross, Beth Broderick) in Palm Springs. Her sister Tracy (Chelsea Gilson) announces her wedding to Preston on the upcoming 4th of July. Her father is worried that Stephanie has only been dating Ben for six months. Her mother is worried that Tracy is getting married in four weeks. The girls are shocked that their parents are selling the house.

Nothing really happens. At least, it's nothing dangerous. I'm struggling to find the drama. There is nothing particularly funny either. I just kept thinking that this is going to end with a double wedding. I'm surprised that it wasn't suggested by either Ben or Stephanie right from the beginning. Then the other one can have cold feet and the movie can have real stakes. The stakes in this one ends up being something more pedestrian. In real life, it would be a real problem so I'm not completely dismissing it. It's not a cinematic drama. At least, it's not done in a cinematic way. The problems jumble together in a real way and again, it's not cinematic. The pacing is really slow. Oh and the carrot cutting is awkward. I feared for Becca's fingers.

Just pure Awful

[hn-95326 · 1/10 · 30 June 2021]

AWFUL movie, Just dont watch, Do NOT.

Acting was bad, storyline as well. The rating is misleading.

Movie crew should know what car parts are for.

[wawildbill-197-986443 · 8/10 · 25 October 2019]

At one point in the movie Ben, Stephanie's Fiancee, walks into the garage where Stephanie's Dad, Robert is working on a vintage car. Ben identifies it as a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which impresses Robert, and asks if it is running. Robert says no, says it needs an idler arm. Ben looks at the engine naming off several parts, again impressing Robert, telling him his dad is a mechanic. Later on Robert receives a package with an idler arm in it, apparently from Ben's dad. Further on Robert is in the Thunderbird starting it. As Ben is walking up, he says "sounds good", then Robert drives off. All this implying that an idler arm is part of the engine, it is actually part of the steering assembly.

A very different Hallmark movie

[flashlightreview · 5/10 · 4 August 2019]

This is a very different approach when it comes to writing, acting and overall plot from the known Hallmark movie recipes.

Two sisters are getting married, on the same day but sequential years (4th of July). The plot revolves around this scenario and the fact that their parents have personal business that may interfere.

The overall taste of this movie is a departure from the more traditional Hallmark scenario. You still have "family, marriage and tradition" at the core of the story line, but the acting is very different.

Too Slow - July in Palm Springs YIKES

[vintagegeek · 3/10 · 28 March 2020]

This one really dragged along. The Dad was horribly obnoxious. You wondered what idiotic thing he'd say next. The young Guys were really plastic. I don't think there facial muscles ever moved.

Hallmark needs to be a bit more realistic

[halobrown · 2/10 · 15 January 2020]

July in Palm Springs and everyone is wearing pants and long sleeves. Give me a break.

Snooze fest

[bkkk-90052 · 2/10 · 10 September 2019]

Wow, I'm an hour and a half into this movie and it's awful, just feel like I need to finish it now. The acting is terrible, the women in this movie are so monotone and BORING...the hunky husband to be is adorable and without him I wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes. The father of the brides(s) is obnoxious....and why does her older sister need to get married so fast, they've been dating for 10 years??? Knocked up?? And dont get me started on Beth Broderick🙄

Boring

[majoq · 2/10 · 7 July 2019]

So boring that I couldnt even finish watching it. Don't waste your time with this one.

Who Peels Carrots Like That?

[laughran17 · 1/10 · 23 August 2019]

Right before they talk about if they should go to England together or not, they show the two sisters cutting food. Stephanie is peeling the carrots like a toddler! It would take someone two hours to peel just one carrot that way.

How long will marriage last

[kdfyhmdd · 4/10 · 8 August 2022]

Average movie with poor ending. Choice to support bride's anthropology career over chance to teach at Oxford?

If remaining marriage choices are that wise, it would turn out like movie, not very memorable!

All Five stars are for Beth Broderick.

[Racingphan2 · 5/10 · 6 June 2023]

The only thing to really watch here is the woman who starred in so many Hallmark Christmas movies, Beth Broderick. She's pretty, expressive and emotional.

The usually great Michael Gross is almost maniacally evil here portraying the potential father in law.

The two males leads are basically talking blocks of wood, with absolutely no facial expressions.

Is it ironic that there are actors with the names Gross and Rottman in this movie? Appropriate.

And now I have to pad the rest of review to make the IMDB minimum of 600 characters. I still have fifty characters to go. Maybe if I have more wine.