Displaying items by tag: Mark Waters

LA DOLCE VILLA

US/Italy, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.

Scott Foley, Violante Placido, Maia Reficco, Giuseppe Futia, Simione Luglio, Tomaso Basili, Daniel Panzironi.

Directed by Mark Waters.

Most people probably like nice films. However, especially amongst bloggers, there is a demographic who have an allergy to nice films – except that they watch them, say they start to watch them and then stop, and feel compelled to carve up the film on the IMDb et cetera.

This is definitely one of those films. You can tell by the title. There is very little Dolce Vita of the Fellini-kind in this film.

Young woman loves living in Italy, can buy Villa for one euro, Father disapproves. He comes to Italy, observing, gets caught up, interactions with the Mayor, collaborating with his daughter, becoming an Italian, an American abroad.

The film was directed by Mark Waters, who has directed a lot of nice films, especially at the beginning of his career, the director of Mean Girls.

1. The title? Memories of la Dolce Vita? The pleasant variation?
2. The setting, the town, the streets, offices, restaurants, the old houses, the beautiful countryside? The musical score? And the finale with Volare…?
3. The story of Eric Field? Widower and memories of his wife? Work as a chef, transferring to business, his connections, skilled advice? His relationship with Olivia? Broken? The contact, his coming to Italy, and happy memories of Italy? His concern about his daughter?
4. Olivia’s story, age 25, wanting to be independent, memories of her mother, in Italy, the scheme for the houses, paying one euro, the deposit, the renovation of the house, a recognition by the government?
5. Her father interfering, continually talking, the encounter with Francesca, the mayor, her management, the scheme, Matteo her assistant and wanting the grappa, the advice from Bernardo, the personal relationship? The visit to the various houses? The choice, the legal situation?
6. The scenes of the renovation of the house, exhilaration, design, equipment, the plan for the kitchen, the cooking school? Nino, his skills, personality, friendship? His discussions with Olivia, her skill in design, suggestion of the apprenticeship, her going to Rome, not telling her father?
7. Eric, financial help, becoming more involved, the days passing and his staying? The effect on him, communication with Olivia, with Francesca, the visit to the mansion and the picnic, the romance? The effect on each?
8. The town, the people working in the offices, the three elderly ladies sitting in the square, hostility to Eric, a gradual mellowing? And their becoming involved with the cooking school?
9. Giovanni, Chef, training in Rome, returning home, the special meal for Francesca, Eric working with him, admiring his abilities? The relationship with Olivia?
10. Bernardo, his efficiency, infatuation with Francesca, his being upset with her romance, checking out the descendants and their claim to the house? Eric and Olivia accepting this, the deal for repayment?
11. Francesca, everybody searching the archives, finding the documents, the difference between and e and the i, reclaiming the house, and the young couple finding a dilapidated house – but deciding to renovate it?
12. A film that is consistently nice, described as cute and charming, or serious audiences thinking it superficial? But its achieving what it set out to do, a nice entertainment and romance?

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

US, 2024, 88 minutes, Colour.

Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt, Rachael Harris, Sean Teale, Chad Michael Murray, Michael McDonald, Wilson Cruz, Tasneem Roc.

Directed by Mark Waters.

After so many Father of the bride films, it seems only right to have, even belatedly, to have a Mother of the Bride. And the narrative attraction is always the wedding.

This is a brief, rather slight story, with some moments in London, some moments in San Francisco, but most of the film very attractively in Thailand, in Phuket. (And, the credits list shows that most of the crew for the making of this film were from Thailand.)

Audiences who enjoyed Julia Roberts and George Clooney in A Ticket to Paradise may find the plotline here rather familiar. The romance in the exotic setting, the preparations for the wedding, and tensions between the two central characters with reconciliation.

Brooke Shields served as Executive Producer of the film and it is very much hers, reminding audiences of her long career as a child star, films and television, author. And there is a range of predictable enough characters, the pushy best friend, the pleasant gay couple, the bossy marriage organiser as well as the central couple and their wedding preparations.

Nothing particularly startling, more of an easy, undemanding watch.

1. The title, expectations? Focus on the mother rather than the father?
2. The situation, Emily, in London, her talents, company and sponsorships, remains with RJ, the lavish proposal and setting, Emmy going back to inform her mother?
3. The portrait of Lana, Dr, on the phone, demanding, reassuring the staff, determined? Welcoming Emmy home? The comedy and drama of their interactions, the protective mother, the background of the long dead father, Lauren and her control, Emmy counterbalancing her mother? The information about the wedding in Thailand, all the organisation?
4. The attraction of the ties settings? Full cat?
5. The situation, R and her control, bossy, calling Lana Mumma Winslow, the timetable, the schedule, overriding objections, the location, the costumes and dress, the dancing rehearsals, putting Lana’s toast speech…?
6. The revelation that RJ was Will Jackson son? The meeting up of all the old friends and memories of studies at Stanford? Tensions? Janice and her interventions? The gay couple? The gradual revelation of the story of the past, will walking out, Lana changing her phone number, their marriages, children, 30 years of no communication?
7. Lucas, his presence on holiday, Dr, the contact with recruiting Lana? His romantic interest, stepping back?
8. The ups and downs of the moods, tension between Lana and Will, gradual mellowing, playing of the attraction to Lucas, the dense and Mona Lisa, the drive, stranded, the boat? The crisis and the behaviour at the wedding? The issue of Katrina, her arrival, with the ring, the proposal?
9. Emmy, doubts, discussions with RJ, his love for her, standing up for herself, confronting her mother, the ceremony itself, the pastor, the response, the aftermath, the tensions, the throwing of the bouquet?
10. Everybody watching Katrina’s arrival, the resolution of the situation?
11. The final credits and everybody happily dancing?