Destination Wedding - A Movie Review

So, are we really just going to complain about this wedding the entire time?

Arriving at the wedding in 2018, Destination Wedding follows two people who are not happy to be at the wedding of their former lovers. Griping about the wedding, Frank and Lindsay make a connection.

Films that take place in one day always need to find new elements to work on. Destination Wedding does that but not in the right way. Either it was making fun of the genre or it was trying to do something new. Concentrating on its main characters the entire time, supporting roles are ignored.

Would you ever think to see Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves in a film together? Frank and Lindsay talk about any little subject that comes to mind as soon as they meet one another. Sometimes, I had no idea what they were talking about because conversations changed so quickly.

Destination Wedding felt more like banter between Ryder and Reeves instead of a real film. I was surprised to learn that the actors have been close friends for a long time. I bought their friendship, but the romantic chemistry was not there.

Reeves was miscast. This was not the right film for him and it shows. He has a monotone voice for all of his deliveries. None of his actions or dialogue was convincing. Even his snoring sounded fake!

Whether it was the filmmaker’s idea or not, supporting cast members are not given any direction. None of them react to even the slightest event, like when one of the characters spilled something on their clothing. The married couple who both characters have had a history with are hardly given any screen time other than their wedding.

Honestly, the ensemble didn’t have to be in the film at all. Filmmakers could have made them cutouts and you wouldn’t have noticed. All they do is stand in the background, act like they’re chatting, and pay no attention to Frank and Lindsay who are ALWAYS talking.

Nobody shushes them during the wedding which is unrealistic. And half of the time nobody is around; like outside the airport, arriving at the wedding area, or even in the hotel they’re staying in. Briefly, they wander off and meet a mountain lion along the trail (which was honestly the best scene).

These types of films work when you have somebody else to perform from. Side characters are the most important element. Supporting characters weave a break from the main action. In Destination Wedding, we NEVER get a break from the main characters. It’s exhausting being around them! They never stop talking.

Honestly, Frank and Lindsay were boring. They talked about random things. They didn’t even want to participate in the fun wedding games. They’re just standing still or sitting for all of their scenes. There's hardly any action.

I am curious to see what the script was like if there was one. Filming lasted for 10 days. Victor Levin wrote any idea that came to his mind - even making the characters have the most awkward sex scene that I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe at.

The one upside to Destination Wedding is the location spots. Levin found the best locations to film in. Hotels, dining areas, the grassy setting for the wedding, and an airplane. The film was shot entirely in only 2 shots with no close-ups.

Maybe I am being too harsh, but this film could have been distributed better. After a while it gets boring. If you want, find Destination Wedding on Netflix and give it a watch.