Netflix Self-Torture Experiment Trilogy #3: License to Wed

I took the day off of work to clean up my apartment a little bit before the big tweetup this weekend, but I’ve now grown tired of cleaning so I figured I’d watch a bad movie. This is another personal choice, based on the commercials I saw for it which made me want to slam my head against something hard.

Synopsis from Netflix: Newly engaged Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) encounter a roadblock to their trip down the aisle when her unusual pastor, Father Frank (Robin Williams), insists they go through a tough and quirky prenup course before he’ll marry them. Since Sadie dreams of having a traditional wedding at her family church, the two agree to the marital boot camp — but find it puts their relationship through some unexpected challenges.

My thoughts (unsurprising spoilers included): The problem with writing about all of these bad movies is that many of them start to sound the same after a while. It’s inevitable, really—when the films are so formulaic, the reviews become more and more difficult to make interesting. With that in mind, let’s go through the bad romantic comedy checklist for License to Wed:

  • Stuttering but charming male lead.
  • Slightly annoying but adorable female lead.
  • No establishment of real chemistry between male and female leads.
  • Antagonistic future in-laws.
  • RELENTLESS REINFORCEMENT OF GENDER STEREOTYPES.
  • Predictable scene where the couple breaks up and you’re supposed to think their relationship is doomed.
  • Male lead makes a huge romantic gesture and the couple gets back together and lives happily ever after.

Sorry for the all-caps in bullet point #5, but that one really annoys me. (For more on gender stereotypes and sexism, please visit Patriarchy Is Bullshit.)

The above list doesn’t even take in to account Robin Williams’ character or his maddeningly annoying child sidekick. Suffice it to say, their “comedic” additions to the rom-com checklist only intensified my desire to slam my head against something hard. Expect my next review to be littered with mistakes in spelling and basic grammar because I’ll probably be suffering from mild brain trauma. [One out of five stars.]

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  1. spdracerx posted this