JENNY’S WEDDING

US, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.
Katherine Heigl, Tom Wilkinson, Linda Emond, Alexis Bledel, Grace Gummer, Diana Hardcastle, Sam Mc Murray.
Directed by Mary Agnes Donoghue.

Jenny’s Wedding is not what we might have imagined it to be.

Tom Wilkinson and Linda Emond are very good as Jenny’s parents, he a fireman, she working at home, their older son married with children, the younger daughter married with children, their waiting for Jenny, a social worker, to meet the right man, to become engaged and be married. Time is running out.

Jenny is quite a vivacious character, as Katherine Heigl usually is in Gray’s Anatomy and the various Romcoms she acted in over 10 years. She is happy with her life except for her secret, that people think her girlfriend and partner is just her roommate.

This is a story of coming out, of Jenny finding the right time to tell her parents the truth. When she does finally tell the truth, her mother is surprised but is able to deal with the revelation so much better than Jenny’s father. They both decide that they should keep up the pretence about the roommate. However, the truth catches up with them. an exasperated Jenny verbally attacks her father. He is in denial and wants nothing to do with her. It seems her older brother has always known the truth. but her sister, played by Grace Gummer, a dowdy housewife who eschews make up and is married to a wastrel, is shocked at first but comes to some understanding, as well as a freedom to oust her husband. When some of the parents’ old friends find out, the mother is censorious but the husband, also a fireman, is instrumental in persuading Jenny’s father to go to the wedding.

The plot outline parallels an equivalent heterosexual story, the preparation for the wedding, the planning for the dress, the seating arrangements… And, there are many at the ceremony, and a happy celebration afterwards. The roommate does not feature particularly strongly – and it seems strange that the screenplay doesn’t have any scene when Jenny’s father contacts or discusses anything with the roommate. It is only in a photo during the final credits that the two are seen standing together.

The film takes for granted same-sex marriage legislation in the United States. It also offers a more human opportunity for audiences to understand and appreciate the nature of same-sex relationships and marriage.

1. in the tradition of romantic comedies? Male-female? Lesbian romantic comedy and similarities? For the couple? Family? For friends?

2. An American mainstream film tackling this subject in 2015? Past issues of coming out? American legislation on same-sex marriages? Activities of conservative and religious groups and opposition? Challenge?

3. Katherine Heigl, her status as a comedienne? The cast?

4. The Cleveland settings, the city, homes and apartments, shops, the streets, the fire department? The wedding celebration? The musical score?

5. The screenplay, keeping the central theme back for some time and audience response to Jenny’s relationships, people trying to set her up? Her roommate? Heterosexual expectations of her? The revelation of the truth, shifts in perspective or not? Opening up the theme?

6. Jenny, in herself, strong character, age, social work and concerns? Five years with Kitty? Concealing this from everyone? her wanting a wedding, discussions with Kitty, the plans, buying the dresses? The decision to tell her parents? Their past comments on partnerships, her father talking about finding the right one and staying the distance? Her mother’s support? The impact of telling lies?

7. The opening baptism, the religious tone, Jenny forced to say I do concerning the questions? The party, Michael, her brother, setting her up – and his later admitting that he knew about her from high school days? Anne, dowdy, her work, husband and children, fostering the gossip about relationships? Introduction to the parents, ordinary, their friends?

8. The range of stories, the speculation about Jenny and engagement, married men…?

9. Jenny telling her mother, her mother literally being stunned, trying to cope, trying to understand, not succeeding? In denial? The issue of lies, secrecy and cover, the continuing to support the lies? Her father, his reaction, knowing times had changed? His going out to the meal with her? His understanding, but not wanting to talk? The issues of blame, each blaming themselves for her orientation, upbringing?

10. Different at work, the workmates and their sex talk, the episode referring to the lesbians and dykes and Ed’s reaction? His friend changing the work shift? Their having been friends for years? The end, his intervention with Ed, talking about the problem of getting out of oneself, urging him to the wedding? His wife, long friendship with Rose, her concerns about Jenny, the disapproval, gossiping with other women about the issue?

11. Shopping for the dress, trying them on? The kissing – and Anne seeing them? Going to talk to her mother, finding out that her mother knew? Her outbursts about favouritism and her being unloved?

12. Jenny, phone calls, answering, not answering?

13. Anne, Jenny’s visit to the house, looking at the dead grass, her continued reference to dead grass and being unloved? Her husband, lout, going out? Her hosing the grass, its coming to life – and her ousting him and his not understanding the image of the grass?

14. Discussions with Michael, asking him to walk her up the aisle?

15. The gathering, the people present, her blunt speaking out the truth, everybody’s reaction, harsh words at her father?

16. At home, Ed, the bedroom, the clashes with Rose, not talking, her feeling more desperate, her love for her daughter growing support?

17. Rose coming across her friends, the gossiping, her strong outburst of support?

18. The wedding, everybody gathered, her mother offering to help her with buying the dress? Discussions with Kitty and the places at the meal?

19. Everybody assembling, Ed turning up, his apology, his love for his daughter, explaining his hurt? Mother and father walking her up the aisle? The ceremony itself, the consent, the ring?

20. The celebration, the dancing?

21. The final photo, family and children, and Ed standing next to Kitty?