Bess Armstrong, then-star of the TV series "On Our Own", is very good as a perky newscaster who has her choice between two men for her future husband: a well-meaning dullard and an all-out romantic who will not let anyone stop him from winning Armstrong's heart. Richard Thomas is surprisingly well-cast as the guy with the incurable crush, even though by today's standards he may seem a little nutty (would bursting into a church on horseback constitute stalking?). Luckily, Bess kinda likes him after all, and this TV-film is memorably quirky and cute. Lots of guest-stars in support (Katherine Helmond, Van Johnson, Audra Lindley, Mark Harmon, Vic Tayback, Fabian, Richard Deacon) help make it a breezy, enjoyable affair.
7 Reviews
Cute...romantic....completely divorced from reality....
gee-159 March 2023
A young Bess Armstrong is getting married to handsome Mark Harmon and when her lovelorn coworker (played by Richard Thomas) finds out, all heck breaks loose. Thomas spends the rest of the film pursuing Armstrong's character who is planning the wedding with her sweetly domineering mother-in-law played by Katherine Helmond. Thomas, after being interrogated by his own parents regarding his lackluster love life, claims that he is getting married and ANOTHER wedding is planned. (And as happens in Movieland, the two weddings are occurring on the very same day). Now, who will Bess choose?
I remember watching this when it first aired, oh so many years ago, and finding it enjoyable and funny. The movie is full of familiar faces (Van Johnson, Audra Lindley, Fabian, Mimi Kennedy, Vic Tayback). It's typical romantic comedy fluff and Bess Armstrong is so cute and endearing you get that more than one guy would be interested. As an adult, I realize that Thomas' character's behavior is pretty stalkerish (though Armstrong is more irritated by it initially than really upset). As long as you don't treat it as a model for how to win a girl over, it's enjoyable to reflect on how innocent the film is compared to the romantic comedies of today.
I remember watching this when it first aired, oh so many years ago, and finding it enjoyable and funny. The movie is full of familiar faces (Van Johnson, Audra Lindley, Fabian, Mimi Kennedy, Vic Tayback). It's typical romantic comedy fluff and Bess Armstrong is so cute and endearing you get that more than one guy would be interested. As an adult, I realize that Thomas' character's behavior is pretty stalkerish (though Armstrong is more irritated by it initially than really upset). As long as you don't treat it as a model for how to win a girl over, it's enjoyable to reflect on how innocent the film is compared to the romantic comedies of today.
Murphy's Law does not come into play here...
thejcowboy2222 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I wanted to ask this girl out on a date but got rejected. Time after time I would approach her and the same result, "NO!" I sent flowers, no response. Wrote poems, nothing. I forced the issue and ended up in a screaming match." My methods to this madness was sparked by this unrealistic made for TV movie. Definitely a feel good movie for the person who is the underdog trying to win affections for a love from a distance.Michael Carboni (Richard Thomas) is an associate producer at a TV station who is captivated by his co-worker. This vision of loveliness is a blonde television news anchor named Katie Lawrence played by Bess Armstrong. Carboni would stare at her from the adjacent cameras day after day trying to work up enough courage to ask her for a date? No! This is love a first sight. Carboni wants to marry her immediately. Well, He'll give her at the very least, one week. As Carboni is crushed to hear the bad news that she is about to be wed to some prominent executive type named Howard Lesser (Mark Harmon) from an upstanding family.Our optimist Carboni has some outrageous plan to win her affections, propose marriage to her, plan a backyard wedding involving his clueless parents and breakup the regular scheduled wedding the Lesser family prepared in a fancy setting. It's as if Carboni didn't let the news sink in to his head that he was the only guy for Miss Lawrence? Determined and positive it's as if Carboni attempted a dive off ten foot diving board into a bucket of water. Total fantasy without special effects. So many things had to fall into place for this plan to break up a wedding. Let's not forget the real selling point for this woman to take a 180 degree turn for Carboni. Carboni plans to break up the catered affair by riding into the ceremony on a palomino dressed as a white knight by proclaiming his love for her. So unbelievable and far fetched. The reality is Carboni would get the thanks but "No Thanks" from his LOVE "Katie" routine and there would be no wild adventure. This TV movie reminds me of the movie Pretty Woman that irritates every prostitute in the world with another wild fantasy that never happens. There are lonely guys out there who attempted some kind of outrageous act to win the heart of an unattainable woman. A disclaimer should be posted on the screen before story and after the credits. Do not attempt this stunt at home or the office. Richard Thomas makes his romantic return in another TV movie in 1993 entitled I Can Make You Love Me (Stalking Laura) and these results are very real and tragic.
Excellent movie for Bess and Richard
MEEdmo428 November 2005
I love to watch Richard Thomas in comedy roles and this is no exception. He is certain that this beautiful newscaster is destined to be his wife, even if she is definitely marrying a snob with snobbish mother. His attempts to win her while assuring his parents he is getting married are enough to make you cheer him on. He even writes a beautiful song which is sung to her by Fabian. His folks continue to plan the wedding to be held in their back yard. Her parents are rather on his side, but mostly just watch the efforts made to win their daughter. He never gives up, right down to the last minute, becoming the "Knight on a white horse". I love feel-good movies and this is one I highly recommend. (He did a good job on Barefoot In The Park, also with Bess Armstrong....much better than the movie. His talent at bringing out the comedy in his role is superb.)
Seen from a different perspective... this is not a happy story
nsouthern-2568722 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, my - what a trip this film is.
There is something unpleasant and discomfiting about the whole premise of Getting Married - our being asked to sympathize with any young man insensitive enough to crash one of the most stressful weeks of a woman's life and ruin her planned nuptials. And what kind of silly bride would jilt her intended at the altar to marry a lovestruck pursuer whom she barely knows, who has been acting like a psycho for seven days attempting to woo her? What does that say about her stability? At least, in The Graduate - which this movie shamelessly rips off - we see chemistry between Ben and Elaine and understand that they have an established compatibility and have fallen for one another. It also ends with a coda questioning the wisdom of their decision, as they seem destined to become their miserable parents. Getting Married is neither as sophisticated nor as adult.
Envisioning the scenario of 'Married' from the Mark Harmon character's point of view, I can imagine what a nightmare it would be, and how much it would wreck the groom's life and break his heart, if a lovesick pursuer destroyed his wedding. It might spell disaster for the bride as well, if she barely knew the suitor and went along with his scheme impetuously.
I know, I know - Getting Married was intended as a frothy romantic comedy, and I should take it in that vein. But it might have worked better if the scriptwriter had more carefully established the prior relationship (the emotional synchrony) between the Michael Carboni and Kristy Lawrence characters, and turned the Howie Lasser character (Harmon) into more of an ass who bamboozles Lawrence into thinking otherwise. Instead, as presented here, we get no scenes of intimacy between Michael and Kristy; even when the story opens up the door on this possibility, it drops the ball. And Lasser seems like a pretty class A dude, willing to fight for his fiancée. Any woman worth half her senses would choose him over the smug, monomaniacal, and possibly sociopathic wallflower played by Richard Thomas.
Is there any universe that could actually introduce half of what this guy Michael does, without implying that the character is a certifiable nut? I include on that list: his "Marry Me" billboard, his entrance as a white knight on a horse (a getup that he apparently whips together in about 10 minutes), and above all else, conning his gal pal into posing as his intended to register a phony marriage at city hall - the point where the film dives into all-out lunacy. An act of fraud? Sure, why not, if it helps him get the girl. (SMH)
There are also logical holes large enough to drive a train through them - my favorite is the notion that Carboni only informs his parents of the wedding less than a week before, and they ask no questions at all - and, bizarrely, end up making elaborate preparations for another ceremony, but never ask where the bridal party is. This plays like something out of The Twilight Zone.
The film is never as creepy as it could have been, and it has some inspired touches, including fine supporting turns by Van Johnson and Vic Tayback, and an original, gentle romantic song diegetically composed by the Carboni character and performed nicely by co-star Fabian (albeit exhaustively overplayed). And Armstrong was an ideal choice for Kristy - you can see why any young man would lose his heart to her.
But the material has an unsettling quality that undercuts the gentle uplift sought by its creators. And it sinks beneath the weight of its own implausibility.
There is something unpleasant and discomfiting about the whole premise of Getting Married - our being asked to sympathize with any young man insensitive enough to crash one of the most stressful weeks of a woman's life and ruin her planned nuptials. And what kind of silly bride would jilt her intended at the altar to marry a lovestruck pursuer whom she barely knows, who has been acting like a psycho for seven days attempting to woo her? What does that say about her stability? At least, in The Graduate - which this movie shamelessly rips off - we see chemistry between Ben and Elaine and understand that they have an established compatibility and have fallen for one another. It also ends with a coda questioning the wisdom of their decision, as they seem destined to become their miserable parents. Getting Married is neither as sophisticated nor as adult.
Envisioning the scenario of 'Married' from the Mark Harmon character's point of view, I can imagine what a nightmare it would be, and how much it would wreck the groom's life and break his heart, if a lovesick pursuer destroyed his wedding. It might spell disaster for the bride as well, if she barely knew the suitor and went along with his scheme impetuously.
I know, I know - Getting Married was intended as a frothy romantic comedy, and I should take it in that vein. But it might have worked better if the scriptwriter had more carefully established the prior relationship (the emotional synchrony) between the Michael Carboni and Kristy Lawrence characters, and turned the Howie Lasser character (Harmon) into more of an ass who bamboozles Lawrence into thinking otherwise. Instead, as presented here, we get no scenes of intimacy between Michael and Kristy; even when the story opens up the door on this possibility, it drops the ball. And Lasser seems like a pretty class A dude, willing to fight for his fiancée. Any woman worth half her senses would choose him over the smug, monomaniacal, and possibly sociopathic wallflower played by Richard Thomas.
Is there any universe that could actually introduce half of what this guy Michael does, without implying that the character is a certifiable nut? I include on that list: his "Marry Me" billboard, his entrance as a white knight on a horse (a getup that he apparently whips together in about 10 minutes), and above all else, conning his gal pal into posing as his intended to register a phony marriage at city hall - the point where the film dives into all-out lunacy. An act of fraud? Sure, why not, if it helps him get the girl. (SMH)
There are also logical holes large enough to drive a train through them - my favorite is the notion that Carboni only informs his parents of the wedding less than a week before, and they ask no questions at all - and, bizarrely, end up making elaborate preparations for another ceremony, but never ask where the bridal party is. This plays like something out of The Twilight Zone.
The film is never as creepy as it could have been, and it has some inspired touches, including fine supporting turns by Van Johnson and Vic Tayback, and an original, gentle romantic song diegetically composed by the Carboni character and performed nicely by co-star Fabian (albeit exhaustively overplayed). And Armstrong was an ideal choice for Kristy - you can see why any young man would lose his heart to her.
But the material has an unsettling quality that undercuts the gentle uplift sought by its creators. And it sinks beneath the weight of its own implausibility.
A Feel Good Movie
Merryinct22 April 2006
If I could start again and rewrite my life I would be Bess Armstrong in this movie.It makes my heart hurt and my eyes leak every time I see it. Everyone should have a Fantasy and this one is mine. The visual of Richard Thomas riding to get Bess from the church on his "white", albeit freshly painted, white horse is the vision every girl wants to have in here life. Also the juxtaposition of the wedding plans from both families are a joy to watch. Such spirit and determination remind be of Dustin Hoffman when he steals Katherine Ross from the church in The Graduate.This is a much more lighthearted and playful film and I recommend it to anyone who wants to feel young at heat and lucky in love.
Excellent Little Movie!
pdbordelon16 June 2020
I gave this movie 10 stars not because I think it should win an academy award but because its a light, fun, and romantic movie that made me feel good when I first saw it as a pre-teen. Also of note is that Richard Thomas and Bess Armstrong would team up again in the amazing HBO produced play of Barefoot In the Park - I highly recommend. This movie is a pre-curser to their chemistry!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
