Wedding Season is a quick, light-hearted watch that shines with the help of talented actors and good writing. The first half is slightly weaker than the second, but there are some truly poignant moments in between the romance and comedy that stay with you. ..
The colors are vibrant and the outfits are stunning. The soundtrack is perfect for the movie’s lighthearted tone and includes some memorable tracks. ..
Asha and Ravi are two career-driven women who are passionate about social justice. They decide to enter a fake relationship to fend off the community’s inquisitive aunties, but soon their fake relationship turns into something real. The story follows their journey as they try to figure out what it means to be true to themselves and each other.
The slow descent into love is one of the best parts of the movie. Carried by the talents of Pallavi Sharda and Suraj Sharma, Sharda’s portrayal of a strong independent woman feels organic, real and relatable. Meanwhile, Sharma, as Ravi, has a casual wittiness that will charm the pants off you. Plus, he nails the I’m-falling-in-love-with-you eyes. The two have a palpable chemistry that is sweet and endearing. It makes you root for them. Obviously, things aren’t that easy as Asha’s insecurities from a previous relationship and secrets from Ravi’s past come to the fore. ..
The movie does a great job of characterizing its characters. We see a range of different people with their own quirks, qualities, and desires. The relationships between them are interesting and make the movie more enjoyable. ..
The film also tries its hand at portraying the complex web of these families and their community. It throws light on the immense pressure faced by first generation Indian Americans as well as the hardships endured by their immigrant parents. It looks at Asha’s desire to be independent, her sister’s anxiety about being the first in the family to marry a non-Indian and Ravi’s constant fight against family expectations. Towards the end, we even see Asha’s become a little closer to her roots.
The film’s second half tries to explore a variety of different topics, but the execution is sloppy. In trying to look at all these different facets within the short run time, the movie ends up not being able to give them the depth they deserve. Additionally, this comes with a slightly jarring tonal shift. However, the dramatics fall under the usual rom-com tropes and these flaws are not deal breakers.
The film feels stretched out and could use more focus. For example, the scene at the wedding where nearly every character grabs the mic to have their say. Personally, I think these speeches would have hit harder without the large audience but it seems the combination of grand gesture and Indian wedding was too tempting to pass on. However, both Asha and Ravi’s romantic declarations are heartfelt and with just enough cheese.
Wedding Season is a new take on the rom-com genre that is a pleasure to watch. The story follows two people who are in love and are trying to make their wedding happen as quickly as possible.
