Kiss the Bride ** (2007, Tori Spelling, Philipp Karner, James O’Shea, Joanna Cassidy, Tess Harper, Robert Foxworth) – Classic Movie Review 13,948

‘Guess who’s coming out for the wedding?’

Jul. 23, 2007

USA100 Min.R

Matt and Ryan (Philipp Karner, James O’Shea) were best friends and lovers In high school. Ten years later, Matt is a successful editor and chief photographer for the LA lifestyle magazine Queery, but memories of Ryan get in the way of progress of his new dates. The two men have lost contact, but Matt receives a shock invitation to Ryan’s wedding to a woman back in their conservative Arizona hometown. He decides to go (otherwise there wouldn’t be a film). Matt still likes Ryan, but Ryan seems to have lost that loving feeling. It’s all a bit awkward for the bride, but it turns out she can handle it.

Director C Jay Cox’s 2007 American film Kiss the Bride daft but sometimes amusing and harmlessly entertaining gay romantic comedy drama. It is likeable and enjoyable enough, but it could be so much more. There are some good performances, some super one-liners along the way, but they let it slip out of their hands towards the irritating, unsatisfying ending. The desperate attempt to find a different ending is commendable but is going to leave pretty much everybody unsatisfied.

Top-billed Tori Spelling does a neat job of keeping it going nice and light-heartedly, main character player Philipp Karner is appealing as the handsome gay hero, kind of low key and introspective, and James O’Shea provides the beefcake as the man they both love. But some esteemed actors from the old days are wasted in rotten old person’s roles: Joanna Cassidy, Tess Harper, Robert Foxworth. They are slightly struggling, but that isn’t fair, they haven’t got enough to do to be struggling, certainly nothing decent enough to do.

Ty Lieberman’s bright but patchy script was the product of Outfest’s first Screenwriters Lab. The script could maybe have done with some further workovers.

The film premiered at Outfest on July 23, 2007, and later had a limited release on April 18, 2008.

The subtle and superior 2015 American drama film Like You Mean It is written and directed by Philipp Karner, and he also stars.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,948

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