Wedding Bells (2016 TV Movie) User Reviews

Lovely Danica McKellar film

[studioAT · 6/10 · 9 February 2020]

A best man and a bridesmaid who seemingly have nothing in common are given the task of planning their friends wedding, and of course sparks start to fly in this fun Hallmark film.

I thought this was great, with the ever lovely Danica McKellar on good form, and well matched by Kavan Smith.

With some lovely themes and moments, this is worth a watch.

Charming bells

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 1 November 2022]

2016 was a hit and miss year for Hallmark, likewise with all the subsequent years too. With winners such as 'Love in Paradise', 'Love on the Sidelines', 'Tulips in Spring', 'Summer Villa' and 'Journey Back to Christmas'. But also some duds such as 'Ms Matched', 'Unleashing Mr Darcy', 'Dater's Handbook', 'The Convenient Groom' and 'A December Bride'. Am not always a fan of Danica McKellar, who tends to be typecast and whose acting tends to be more of the same to a varying degree.

Despite having initial issues with her character, she does come off well here and 'Wedding Bells' comes off well as an overall film. Not one of the very best 2016 Hallmark films, but closer to being one of the winners than one of the duds and for me it is one of the better 2016 June Weddings films easily (which was not a good batch on the whole that year). 'Wedding Bells' may not be a great film and has a few issues, but it also has a lot of worthwhile things executed well.

Starting off with what doesn't quite come off, McKellar's character does take time to warm to with the whining in the early stages going overboard.

Like a lot of Hallmark films, the ending is too pat. Did feel as well that the secondary relationship was too much of a mismatch.

Once her character became more interesting and likeable, McKellar fully relaxes and gives a very winning performance full of charm and energy. Kavan Smith matches her very well and his performance is likeable and easy going, nothing looking stiff or forced. Their chemistry always looks natural and genuine and didn't have any real problem with how it was written and developed. The supporting cast are solid and while they are cliched the characters weren't annoyances or bores, with the only reservations being with McKellar's early on.

Furthermore, 'Wedding Bells' looks good with lovely scenery and the music doesn't distract tonally or in placement. The script isn't cheesy or schmaltzy and flows well, while the story even though very formulaic is very sweet (without being overly so) and light hearted with a nice energy going on.

Concluding, not great but good and one of the few above average 2016 June Weddings films. 7/10.

Danica Sells It

[atlasmb · 6/10 · 18 April 2022]

This Hallmark romance includes common themes and familiar tropes. And the ending can be seen from a mile away. But that does not automatically make the film a dud or a disaster.

As usual in a Hallmark production, the settings are beautiful. And the two leads, Danica McKellar and Kevan Smith, work well together. As hoped for in a romance, there are moments of tearjerking fueled by nostalgia and tenderness.

What makes this film enjoyable, more than anything else, is the performance by Danica. Especially in the final scenes, she really sells the emotions that are the crux of the film. Bruce Boxleitner, as the father of Kevan, also deserves mention for playing the crusty oldster with a protected heart of gold without overdoing it. He adds just the correct amount of "distraction" to the central relationship.

It's worth watching

[lydiajp · 6/10 · 19 January 2019]

In the very beginning of the story the lead man who is a chef, double dip's a French fry into ranch dressing which was a turn off for me also I really did not care for his personality but when the story progressed he did better and I wanted to watch it anyway. I actually enjoyed his father's character (Bruce Boxieitner) in the movie and that guy looks pretty darn good for his age. (Danica) did great with her heart felt acting. It's worth watching.

more than nice

[Kirpianuscus · 5 June 2022]

I like it. For small details, fair portrait of friendship, for house and tension father - son but, especially, for actors. The desired chemistry works and the presence of Bruce Boxleiter îs one of obvious good points. Kavan Smith and Danica Mckellan are just inspired options for main roles. Short, nice to some lovely.

Better than expected from these leads but skip the last 20 minutes

[aeszeki · 7/10 · 15 February 2023]

I really don't like the two leads so I wasn't planning on watching the whole thing. However, Danica finally surprised me and I stayed on. Her character is funny, at times, and not as artificially sweet and boring as most of the roles I have seen her in. So, thanks to that, the first half of the film is pretty good.

Kevan is no leading man and he kind of ruins every film for me, when he is supposed to be "Prince Charming". He is not a bad actor, he is just not that "fetching".

Because it's not that original, you will figure out pretty much all that is going to happen in the end, the relevant stuff, anyway. So, I suggest that, after the first half, you just stop watching. Whatever you imagine is probably better.

low tension Hallmark

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 11 September 2019]

Molly Quinn (Danica McKellar) is the maid of honor for her best friend Amy. Amy is marrying James. His best man is Nick Turner (Kavan Smith). Nick is a chef and Molly is not a fan of his cooking. The wedding has to be canceled when Amy's father loses his money to a crook. There may be a solution with Nick's estranged father Charlie (Bruce Boxleitner).

The movie suggests such animus between Nick and his father but it does not deliver. Without it, there is no real tension. Of course, no tension is the hallmark of Hallmark. The fighting between Molly and Nick has no real danger either. The difficulty comes when their relationship generates little to no heat. It's all very low stakes and it comes off bland. Danica McKellar is a good romantic lead. Boxleitner has more to give. This is pretty flat.

Old and New Classics Meet (No Spoilers)

[dishlady69 · 9/10 · 21 October 2018]

Pleasantly surprised to see Bruce Boxleitner again in this 2016 Hallmark Classic. The cast is well selected and also features two of our Hallmark faves (Danica McKellar & Kavan Smith). Everyone clicks really well with each other and the plot is not as far fetched as some TV Movie plots tend to be nowadays. Loved this.

Barely Okay

[donnamontague-13844 · 2/10 · 30 September 2019]

Having watched hundreds of Hallmark movies, I tend to overlook the obvious mistakes such as when something freshly baked is removed from an oven and yet has no steam at all coming from it. Then there is a scene when the guy double-dips a french fry into ranch dressing. I notice all those little details and some of them are a real turn-off for me.

Although the story line is about the budding romance between the best man and maid of honour, I couldn't focus on that due to all the whining from the bride about all the things she now can not have as her parents are no longer able to pay for the wedding. Then there is the lack of interest in the wedding from the groom--so much lack of interest that he refers to the wedding as 'her' wedding.

I found that there was absolutely no chemistry between any of the couples and the best thing about this movie is Bruce Boxleitner who played a tiny role in it

For a Hallmark movie, this was one of my least favourites.

Typical HM movie...except

[bmiller59 · 10/10 · 6 July 2020]

We thought we had already seen this, but then realized we didn't, so we watched it. I'm trying to NOT read reviews or look at ratings until the end so my review is not tainted by some of the reckless reviews along with the positive one.

The end of the movie came and as I went to IMDB to rate and review I realized that I had favorited Danica and Kavan.

Now, back to my review title...the except. What made me rate this 10 are the two leads. Danica and Kavan were great and their chemistry was palpable, it was so good. I'm way past reviewing movies because of "double dipping" "brow furrowing" or other trivial personal matters like that, though we all have our own personal tastes, constraints and restraints.

Yea, the story was your typical HM movie, there's the script and rhythm which are Hallmark movies, but it always boils down to the characters and their chemistry. I'll watch anything with these two in it.

Absolutely nothing here

[shobbs-86081 · 5/10 · 21 January 2022]

I don't often feel that I have wasted 1:24:41 of my life watching a Hallmark movie, but this didn't make ANY sense from the get-go. No romance between either of the two couples. No believable plot (at all). Impossible challenges in setting up a wedding that didn't even have a meal after it was called off. Who could care about anything but the father's grief and love for his departed wife? Sorry I wasn't warned off of this dog like you are (if you read this.)

One of my absolutely favorite hallmark movie 🎥

[Thisismyyear2021 · 15 September 2021]

This my absolutely favorite movie with Danica and I love it even more that she plays with Kavan in it these two should do more movies together they had such an amazing chemistry in this movie 🎥 the characters of Molly and Nick they play is so similar like Pacey and Joey character from Dawson's creek it's very similar is what I think!!!!!!!

Ugh, just terrible

[julescaroline · 1/10 · 25 September 2018]

First off, Danica always has the pitiful "Winnie" face all the time. The brows are over the top. There is little to no chemistry between the two leads. The first kiss the most painful kiss in the history of kisses. Awkward awkward awkward. Justification to pass on EVERY Danica film.

Very good movie

[jewhitmer25 · 8/10 · 2 August 2021]

The cast Danica McKellar as Molly and Kavan Smith as Nick were both superb in this movie and had great chemistry. I almost always enjoy movies with either one in the cast, this was such a nice bonus seeing how they worked together.

Christopher Russell was wonderful as usual, I have seen him in several movies and he is consitantly very good. Tammy Gillis was a new face for me but she was delightful and portrayed her character perfectly.

The Plot We learn that Molly and Nick had past of sorts because their BFF's Tammy GIllis as Amy and Christopher Russell as James (aka the bride and groom) had locked them out on a balcony in an attempt to get them together. They did not click. Curses foiled again.

Now Nick has finally attained his dream, he has opened his own fancy restaurant. Enter Molly, Amy and James. Nick serves them an appetizer of smoked quail egg marnated in an apple vinegar foam on top of something. Which Molly could hardly choke down. The entree was never described but Molly just stirs it around on her plate, it's not clear if Molly even tried the entree, Nick can tell she does not like anything he served them. She considers all his food "foam food".

Amy gets news that her father has lost all his money to a con artist with a ponzi scheme and can no longer pay for the wedding. There's is a cute scene where the foursome go to Amy's apartment to discuss how to the save the wedding and Nick catches Molly sneaking food from the refrigerator, he says "So you didn't like anything I served you?" Next this same the foursome head for the Berkshires where Nick's father lives in an Inn that he closed when his wfe died. There is another cute scene where Molly educates Nick on the benefits of quality ranch dressing, he tells her she should write food reviews for the Times and she hands him a ranch dressing dipped french fry, he tastes it and dips the french fry in her dressing again. He grudgingly admits it s good. There is a another great moment when they make eye contact over the french fry.

They barely arrive in the Berkshires when Amy and James are called back to New York for an emergency meeting with Amy's parents and their lawyers. Molly and Nick end up planning their best friend's wedding. As they work together they discover that maybe their differences are what makes their relationship great. Some great scenes where they discover what it really is to love someone.

I did wish that when Amy and James called off the wedding, that Nick and Molly would step up and get married right then and there. But in order to obtain an 84 minute running time the writers had to drag it out.

My advice - watch this movie, it's delightful.

Why is Danica McKellar still in anything?

[olivianeeva · 1/10 · 1 March 2020]

Just skip anything with Danica McKellar in it. She can't act. She only has two expressions...constipation and relief! There is never chemistry with any other actor it ruins the movie

Kiss in Wedding Bells

[nelliereyes · 10/10 · 19 January 2019]

Danica Mckeller Doesn't Look Like She Enjoys Kissing Kavan Smith in The Film the Wedding Bells

My New 2nd favorite hallmark Movie!!!

[tracimyers1972 · 10/10 · 18 February 2017]

My favorite is "Let it Snow", but this comes in a close second! I have always loved Danica and was hoping she could pull off a great Hallmark movie, in all her others she way over acted and I was disappointed. This one was perfect! Her chemistry with Kavan is off the charts. The only thing I did not like about the movie was the senseless break up, they should have just put in more chemistry moments between the two of them and had them get married that day, everything was all set up! Duh!! Please release this one on DVD, if not I will just keep it stored on my DVR forever to watch it over and over again!!!

Totally worth the watch.

[MIssM19 · 8/10 · 26 March 2017]

I have only seen maybe two or three wedding movies, but this was absolutely lovely. I smiled ALMOST the entire movie. I gotta be honest, there was a twist in the end that was not predictable - in this type of movies they tend to be - and I loved the script, I laughed more than once.

Both leads were amazing - I saw Kavan Smith get married twice this week, one with Rosemary (When calls the heart) and another with Molly - It's insane how he makes me smile all the time, how amazing both his characters are. And the chemistry is amazing. - (But I totally prefer Lee and Rosemary if you ask me)

I know this is a movie, and the ending was enjoyable, but something like that wouldn't happen in real life, of course there can be chemistry and love in such a short period of time, so the fact that this wouldn't happen it kinda ruined the ending for me.

Yet, it's an AMAZING movie, i would totally watch it again someday. I actually really enjoyed it, it was just the disappointing ending, which isn't bad, just unbelievable, it would have been perfect if they included something like: "One year later..."

Good comeback for Danica

[rebekahrox · 8/10 · 6 June 2016]

I am afraid I gave poor Danica Mckellar a pretty hard time for her last Hallmark effort, A Crown for Christmas. She was too old for the part, she was not a good match for the fabulous Rupert Penry-Jones, and she wore too much make up. It was just awkward, including her performance. She was excellent in this. This one confirms that casting the two leads makes all the difference. She made a good match for Kavan Smith, who played her love interest. They were both age appropriate for the story and attractive enough, but not drop dead gorgeous. A very pleasant outing.

It was nice to have the drop dead gorgeous one (Christopher Russell) paired with someone else in the secondary romance. His love interest was a mismatch, and sure enough, to my mild surprise, they did not work out their problems, and split up in the end. Bruce Boxleitner was a pleasure to see, as usual.

More variety and color

[MickyG333 · 8/10 · 25 October 2023]

7.8 stars.

I would watch this every few years for sure. The story is a bit repetitive, you know, the usual Hallmark stuff; however there are at least a dozen moments that capture something more original, something fresh and new. The comical moments really are genuine and clever. I was impressed at the wonderful chemistry of the leads, and yet so many reviewers are scrapping this film onto the editing room floor thinking there is so much better Hallmark out there. I'm here to tell you there really isn't THAT MUCH Hallmark out there much better than 'Wedding Bells'. I see why both of these actors are in so many romance movies.

It's weird, because every time I see a Hallmark starring one or both of these leads I kinda just think ho hum, well I'll watch it and see how it goes...and they seem to surprise me over and over. He is hilarious and has precision timing with his lines, and she is actually quite quirky and animated. I have a new respect for all the actors, in fact. The dad played by Boxleitner did a great job, he sorta transforms from an old cringey fella into a very endearing and loving father.

Do yourself a favor and watch this film, it grows on you. These actors, although maybe not the most gorgeous or coveted players Hallmark has to offer, are charismatic as heck.