The Wasteland Reviewer

My Mother’s Wedding (2025) Written Review

What does a wedding bring out most in a family? The hope is there will always be plenty of joy on display and a good sign of respect for those who are tying the knot. There is plenty of anxiety that swirls around such a big occasion as well. The need to make sure it all goes right becomes a powerful force in said situation. But any stressful situation that brings people together can always take a hard turn towards tension and confrontation. Weddings can bring out the worst in people and help familial tension rise to the surface. A special day can possibly turn into a disaster quite quickly. That is the concept at the center of Kristin Scott Thomas’ directorial effort, My Mother’s Wedding. 

How does Thomas bring this dramatic tale to life on screen? There is nothing from a filmmaking standpoint that feels interesting or dynamic (which is not necessarily a bad thing with a drama like this). But the visual palette of the film feels over-lit and uninspired. The only visual elements that feel interesting are when one of the daughters (Scarlett Johansson’s Katerine) has moments of memories rushing back into her head and makes her disconnect from the world around her. These memories are rendered in hand drawn animation that have a nostalgic and simplistic style (mostly just pencil strokes). This is a simple yet effective way to give the film a little bit of personality and some filmic voice. Tonally, the film leans a little too heavily into melodrama that makes the film feel a little too sappy and feel like a film you might find on Hallmark. Overall, this feels too much like a workmen approach to stand out in a memorable way. At least the film moves along at a good pace. 

Does the screenplay (from Thomas and John Micklethwait) elevate the experience? This film’s biggest strength is that it tackles an interesting perspective on women and their identity. At the core of the film, this is about these three daughters finding their own identity outside of the shadow of their naval hero fathers. Thomas tackles what it means to grow into a woman and outgrow being a daughter (which feels like a fresh thematic exploration). The film explores this theme with a bluntness that manifests with a climactic verbal confrontation spelling this all out for the audience. Each of these daughter characters has their own arcs and, to some extent, they grow by the end of the film. Georgina (Emily Beecham) struggles with an adulterous husband and her journey feels the most complete (and memorable). Sienna Miller’s Victoria is the loudest of these sisters and her story is the least compelling and does feel quite satisfying. Katherine is the most interesting and unique as she is the one who has fallen into stride with her father and is unfortunately creating some generational trauma and neglect with her partner (Frieda Pinto) and her son. The film does deliver individual arcs, but the film struggles to deliver on the familial dynamic in the end. Thomas’ character is a great addition to the film as their mother, and they find a fun and interesting bunch of supporting characters to fill the story out as well.

What is the greatest strength of this familial drama? The cast. Outside of an unexpected and strange British accent, Johansson’s performance is a strong aspect of the film. Her character is reserved and in turn, Johansson’s performance is as well. But Johansson delivers plenty of emotion underneath the surface and sells a lot through her eyes (paired with a more stoic face). Her rigid body language is key to her character as well with her naval background. Miller gets to deliver a flashier and bigger performance than most of the cast, making her one of the most fun and engaging additions to the film. She portrays a celebrity who certainly has that gregarious vibe that makes sense for such a character. But the moments of vulnerability allow Miller to shine later in the film. Beecham portrays a character who is quieter yet is overflowing with pent up emotion. The performance that Beecham can craft leverages that well and you can see the moments of shaking and holding back tears throughout the film. Beecham succeeds so well in making the moments of lashing out feel so authentic. Thomas has such a refined and strong presence as a performer, and she makes the titular mother such an important anchor to much of the film. James Fleet is such a wonderful addition to the cast as the quirky and kind third husband to Thomas. Pinto does give a flashy performance, but she and Johansson are able to deliver scenes with so much depth and layers together subtly. Joshua McGuire is the biggest and most obnoxious of performers in the film as he captures the repulsive attitude of Beecham’s husband so well. Samson Kayo is a nice addition as an investigator who only pops up briefly. 

Does Thomas’ new drama engage and deliver some good emotion along the way? For the most part, My Mother’s Wedding does move along well and delivers enough laughs and emotional beats to engage over its modest runtime. The cast really benefits Thomas’ effort with a core four actresses that wow the audience for sure. The core themes are interesting and engaging even if the film doesn’t quite deliver in the end by offering satisfying outcomes for all of its layered elements.