A Simple Wedding Review: A film that celebrates love in all forms

The tradition of classic Hollywood rom-com, coupled with the tradition of…well, tradition in some shape or form, comes into play in a new film executive produced by Rita Wilson, A SIMPLE WEDDING, directed by Sara Zandieh from a script she co-wrote with Stephanie Wu.

Housing attorney Nousha Houssaini (Tara Grammy), is an Iranian-American in Los Angeles with a strict traditional background of never-ending arranged unions that always seem to go a little less Middle East and more South in Winter, partly down to Nousha’s overwhelming desire to be different in a Westernised fashion.

Her mother, Ziba (Shohreh Aghdashloo), believes in the stricter traditions of Iranian community and customs, determined that Nousha follow her legacy and provide the right future that her vision allows.

Whilst at a protest with some of her fellow co-workers (and wearing a rather prominently explicit apron), Nousha meets Alex Talbot (Christopher O’Shea), a seemingly bisexual artist and DJ who appears to have the right elements for something she truly desires and before you can say ‘I do’, the pair have moved into together.

However, a first meeting between Alex and her family puts everything back into the rooted traditions of perspective – and when he announces that they are living together, her family try to force the hand by insisting they get married if they want to carry on as they are.

Mild xenophobia begins to creep in when the families of both parties, including Alex’s mother Maggie (Wilson), a divorcée with her ex-husband Bill Talbot (Peter Mackenzie), now in a civil partnership with new hubby Steven (James Eckhouse) who have also joined her, meet for the first time and given the sudden immediacy of developments, even the two lovers begin to question the actions and principles that have led them to come together in love and romance….

With a touch of the likeable cynicism that gave FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL a blockbuster status a quarter of a century ago, coupled with a film that will certainly capture the appeal and essence of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (also produced by Wilson), in itself another film giving the joys of culture in the context of a good old-fashioned cinematic romance, A SIMPLE WEDDING has all you could want, with half the battle won thanks to the two young and talented leads.

Grammy sparkles all round at the vibrant lead heroine, backed up by O’Shea. Wilson is also pretty good as the lost soul of a mother looking to find her own sense of worth and allowing herself a bit of fun on screen in addition to executive producing the film.

However, what starts out in the traditional rom-com standard way is merely a set-up for a second half that diverts into something different, but reminds all of the context, faith and reasoning behind what brings two people together.

It’s a playful film at times and one that celebrates love in all forms, without hammering home the sentiment card. In these uncertain times, as one of the characters reminds Nousha, faith is sometimes the only essence and virtue we can rely on.

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