Son of the Bride (2002)

People always live a point of their life where they think they can't deal with their problems anymore, and suddenly an event changes their way of living. Although this is so common and cliché story, the director does manage to add some extra things to improve it. The story shows typical problems in separated families but at the same time it has the spark it needs to make it enjoyable. "Son of the Bride", made in 2001 by Juan José Campanella, introduces the typical cliché story but with a captivating charm. This movie takes place in Argentina, a country in Latin America. The movie is about Rafael (Ricardo Darín) who is a man that has problems with his ex-wife about their daughter, Vicky (Gimena Nóbile), who he does not visit often. Also he has problems with the café he owns that was started by his father, Nino (Hector Alterio), and finally has problems because he feels guilty for not visiting his mother. After a surprising event, he wants to change his life and start to fix his problems. The actors and actresses did a very good job when portraying their role. They did look really convincing. I was most impressed with the acting of Gimena Nóbile (Vicky), Rafa's daughter in the movie. Due to her age and her role playing being so good, shows how she does have a passion for acting and a good future with it. A role that was also impressive was the one of Norma Aleandro, Rafa's mother, who did manage to portray a lady with Alzheimer and make it credible. Besides the good acting the director, Juan José Campanella, made an awesome job when shooting the scenes. Throughout the movie there is not one scene that I didn't like. I really liked the light used and every angle and setting used does help give a positive rating to the movie. The scene I enjoyed the most was the wedding between his parents. It shows the couple having what they want but with the comic twist, the priest did not let them get married together because of Nina's condition. Rafael decides to hire his friend and make him pretend he is a priest, and with it he pleased his mother on the white wedding that she dreamed of. The biggest lesson that the movie shows is that your family will be side by side to you forever. This is a common theme for many movies but in this one the theme is presented in an original way. The movie does have really cliché ideas, like idea of a man having problems with his ex-wife and daughter for not being the best family man he can be, but the director did manage to show them in original and different ways, he added comic into it as the scene of the wedding. Due to this the movie is more enjoyable that the typical Hollywood movies. People will learn to care for their families and finally appreciate life more. The movie is rated R. The movie is addressed to adults due to some of the language used. Besides the language maybe kids won't enjoy it as much and won't understand the jokes made. I recommend it more to young adults and adults that will understand the jokes and will also feel identified with the movie. Overall the movie is well done and it is enjoyable to watch. My rating: ****= out of ***** Ximena Casafont is a senior at Lincoln School. Soon she will graduate and will study language pathology and early child studies. She will study at Costa Rica both of her careers and take them both at the same time. She enjoys to do art and to spend time with her friends.

This is a lovely film that can't but leave you feeling good. It deals with serious issues -midlife crisis, Alzeimers disease, the true meaning of love, but it does so in a way that doesn't beat you over the head with what to think or feel. You can react to it in your own way, on your own terms.For me, I really loved the metaphoric quality of the ending scenes. What is life but a stage, indeed.This movie is for anyone who enjoys the texture of multi-generational movies (ie. not everyone important is the same age). And certainly its for anyone who likes a good movie about family -it's joys and heartbreaks. Family is the struggle sometimes too.And you have to just love Argentina and the Argentines --good movie makers from way back that continue to deliver quality goods despite the obstacles to the contrary. Personally, I would have liked more social commentary. It's there, just not openly stated. Hmmmm. ¿Por qué sería?

"Son of the Bride (El Hijo de la Novia)" is an Argentinian "It's A Wonderful Life" for baby boomers.Because nowadays even George Bailey would be overworked, with sandwich generation responsibilities, and probably an ex-wife. Instead of an angel, here, it's a heart attack, the sudden appearance of a childhood friend, and his aged father who wants to give his mother the church wedding she wanted for the past 40 years, at least before her mind was lost to Alzheimer's.What makes the movie enjoyable and not schmaltzy, as written and directed by TV director Juan Jose Campanella, is the charm of lead actor Ricardo Darin, the comfortably realistic dialog (with only a couple of missteps in the subtitles) and situations, and the very funny bits that shine through (which Hollywood will smooth out when it re-makes it in English), including boomer pop culture debates (but who is Dick Watson?).Each of the characters has at least some individuality, even the male fantasy young girlfriend and the loving daughter.I loved the penultimate line: that his father makes a loving long marriage "look like Fred Astaire." (originally written 9/2/2002)

This is a beautiful film for all generations. The acting was fabulous. It is a perfect melding of direction, acting, script, sound track, and cinematography. This film is a profoundly important movie because it deals with identifiable everyday-life emotions/issues that are universal. It is the story of a human life and it's tragedies and triumphs within the context of a vocation and life. There were so many things that were good in this movie that it's hard to list them all in a short review, but the way it blended real life & real love with friendship and family and how we respond to the power that they have over us is what makes this movie magic. What a masterpiece! Enjoy the movie and enjoy yourself! The ending is so beautiful.