I LOVE the Beautiful Disaster and Maddox brother series by Jaime McGuire. I have read all those books so many times and the movies just absolutely ruin it. The first movie was different from the book but this one strayed so far, I don't know why they gave it the same title. In the book, Abby and Travis love each other and fight but in this movie, they seem so ridiculous. I did love the scene where the Maddox brothers welcome Abby into their family and talk about their mom dying. I love the casting but it's content and how different it is from the source material that really bothers me. I would like to eventually see a movie that is true to the original.

Ah, "Beautiful Wedding" (2024), a cinematic adventure where Abby and Travis accidentally marry in Vegas and think, "Why not honeymoon in Mexico?" sounds like the kind of movie you'd invent to win a bet on making the most predictable rom-com ever. Yet, here it is, in all its glory, demanding that we sit through nearly two hours of what could only be described as a series of unfortunate events that make you wish they had annulled the movie along with the marriage.

First off, the chemistry between Abby and Travis is as convincing as a tofu steak at a barbecue. Their attempts at romantic banter feel more like awkward exchanges between strangers who've been forced to share a cab. The supporting cast of friends and family are intended to add spice and laughter but instead come off like they wandered in from a different, possibly more interesting movie set. Each gag lands with the subtlety of a brick, and the slapstick scenarios are as fresh as last week's guacamole.

By the time the plot drags us to the picturesque beaches of Mexico, you hope for some redemption or maybe a beautiful scenic distraction. But no, the film doubles down on its commitment to mediocrity with a series of predictable misunderstandings and reconciliations that feel as though they were scripted by a chatbot programmed to churn out clichés. "Beautiful Wedding" tries to be a feast of fun and fails spectacularly, serving up nothing but reheated leftovers from better movies. One and a half stars, and even that feels like a wedding gift.

I came across this movie literally by accident when I bumped the Vudu button on my remote while watching something else. I was surprised to see that Dylan Sprouse had un-retired from acting, so I watched the trailer. I thought it looked silly, but kind of cute...not necessarily worth the $20 to stream.

I did, however, discover that the first movie Beautiful Disaster was available on Hulu, so I watched that. It was so hilarious and irreverent! I found myself rewatching scenes multiple times, and ended up watching some interviews with the actors to confirm my suspicions that some of the scenes were heavily improv-ed to keep each other's reactions organic.

Still giddy and mentally rehashing some of the best moments, I actually broke down and paid for Beautiful Wedding. While the transition from Vegas to Mexico was a bit clunky, this movie had a lot of really over-the-top, hilarious moments, as well as a lot of heart. I would put it in the same box as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates, and Bridesmaids. I didn't feel like I had to have watched the first movie to enjoy the second once the ball was rolling.

If Roger Kumble wants to turn Dylan Sprouse into his new rom-com muse (a la Apatow & Segal), then I am 100% for it! It was also nice to see some of the older acting vets (Rob Estes and Steven Bauer) having fun getting into the specificity of their characters.

I'm glad that I wasn't familiar with the books beyond it popping up as recommended reading on Amazon, because I might not have had chosen to watch it otherwise.