THE WEDDING PLANNER
A breezy romantic comedy with moral choices and mild content concerns.
Should You Watch It?
THE WEDDING PLANNER is a breezy, relatively tame romantic comedy built around an unusual clash of characters. Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey are likable and easy to watch, while the complications among Mary, Steve, Fran, and the Italian suitor create an entertaining series of problems.
The movie is free of sexual immorality, and Mary handles her romantic conflict in a moral way. Still, its romantic worldview does not develop a truly biblical philosophy of marriage. The abrupt ending also resolves the story in a rather pedestrian way.
The practical answer: teenagers and adults can take the trip if they can accept the language and other mild content concerns.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMary is a no-nonsense wedding planner in San Francisco who has no love life of her own. After literally running into a handsome young doctor, she finds herself drawn into a romantic complication when he becomes connected to her newest client.
At the same time, Mary’s Italian immigrant father tries to set her up with a young man fresh off the boat from Italy. Between her career, her family, and the tangled relationships around an important wedding, Mary faces a series of humorous conflicts.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an entertaining but imperfect romantic comedy. THE WEDDING PLANNER has a unique clash of characters, and its central quadrangle develops into an interesting series of problems. Lopez and McConaughey are likable and easy to watch.
The film has the feel of a throwback to romantic comedies from the first decade or so of talking pictures, with some viewers finding reminders of CAREFREE, the 1938 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical comedy. The main weakness is the resolution: the conflicts are settled in a rather pedestrian way by the movie’s abrupt ending.
The Worldview
THE WEDDING PLANNER presents a romantic worldview with some moral elements. The movie includes early scenes set during a wedding at a church, but nothing overtly Christian or redemptive. Its romantic perspective also prevents it from developing a truly biblical philosophy regarding the institution of marriage.
At the same time, Mary handles the conflict involving herself, Steve, and Fran in a moral way. The film is also free of the sexual immorality that can often invade a PG-13 movie. Its central moral strength is therefore found less in a full vision of marriage than in Mary’s choices within a difficult romantic situation.
Marriage is more than romance or social arrangement. Scripture says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Romantic worldview with some moral elements (including some early scenes set during a wedding at a church, but nothing overtly Christian or redemptive); 16 obscenities (including some “d,” “h” & a couple “s” words) & 16 mild profanities (mostly “My God”); no real violence, but man pushes woman out of way of oncoming trash receptacle, horse runs out of control & two people accidentally break a statue; no implied or depicted sex scenes or sexual immorality but couple tries to glue back on private part of statue that is accidentally broken; naked statue shown for light comic effect; alcohol use, couple appears tipsy from visiting winery & women gets drunk when she accidentally runs into ex-fiance; no smoking; and, lack of a full measure of the sacred importance of the institution of marriage.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Mary faces romantic temptation while trying to handle her responsibilities. What does it look like to act morally when your feelings pull in another direction?
1 Corinthians 10:13 · Philippians 4:8The movie treats marriage romantically but does not fully explore its sacred importance. What does Scripture say marriage is meant to be?
Genesis 2:24 · Ephesians 5:25–33Mary’s father tries to arrange a relationship for her. How can parents care about their children’s futures while still respecting their choices?
Ephesians 6:4 · James 1:19The film includes drunkenness and mild profanity. How should Christians think about entertainment choices and personal self-control?
Ephesians 5:18 · Philippians 4:8The Final Word
THE WEDDING PLANNER is a likable, entertaining romantic comedy with moral handling of its central conflict, though its view of marriage remains incomplete and its ending disappoints. For teenagers and adults who can accept the language and mild content concerns, it is WORTH THE TRIP — TEENAGERS AND ADULTS.
