The Engagement Clause

source: The Engagement Clause

Nobody involved in the making of this movie EVER talked to a lawyer about how to deal with the insane clause in Granny's ridiculous and mean spirited will (Phyllis Schlafly would have loved Granny). I'm a lawyer. The will supposedly states that the business is to be given to the then unidentifiable future husband of the first of her unmarried granddaughters to get married (which would leave her own daughter and both granddaughters completely disinherited). This could have and should have been challenged in court after Granny died (which apparently occurred long before the events in the movie) as setting forth a condition precedent that might never occur (given that it was possible when the will was submitted to probate that neither granddaughter would ever marry) and given the absence of an identifiable beneficiary at the time of Granny's death. And even if such a legal challenge failed (unlikely if the relatives all agreed to challenge the will), a lawyer could easily have drafted a contract and a prenup when the first engagement came along that transferred half of the business to each sister (and perhaps giving the first husband half of his wife's share). An inadequate post marriage version of this approach was briefly and vaguely alluded to early on but the new fiancé said everyone should "sleep on it", at which point Katie (well played by April Bowlby) should have reconsidered the character of the person she was marrying. Instead, she and her fiancé started making plans to change the company. It's very frustrating to watch a movie driven by an infuriating premise and even more so when the conflict is an antiquated vestige of a time when women were regarded as subservient second class citizens (although there's still a lot of that in the world). Jes Macallan was really great as Carrie and, if you can ignore the premise (which I couldn't), there's some decent dialogue and well played relationship scenes. But Carrie's "plan" to get married before her sister was desperate and annoying, as was the failure to work out a fair win-win deal BEFORE the wedding. I hate watched the rest of the movie to see how they resolved the conflict (ugh) but I felt like there was a big black cloud hanging over everything. That's not the feeling I want when I'm watching a Christmas movie.

A typical rom com plot is set up, but it is resolved horribly. The sister and her fiance, who are intolerable characters, have no arc and get their way. The main character, however, has an arc that comes from nowhere. Sure, she's represented as being too invested in her work, but this wasn't focused on nearly enough to lead into the central arc of the movie, carrying the central perspective! Considering the main character is represented positively regarding her belief that she should own the company, and vice versa with her sister and the fiance, it is completely unjustifiable that Carrie learns something from the situation, and the selfishness and unreasonableness of her sister and the fiance are not addressed. The cinematography is mediocre, and there are moments of pure cringe sprinkled throughout. There were some funny bits but nothing memorable. Most of the characters had nothing creative or distinguishing about them and added nothing to the film's messages. The charm of the main love interest and the occasional comedic relief of side-characters were the only redeeming inclusions. The safe-bet rom-com conventions this film held to kept it together and prevented it from being a painful watch. But yeah, it's bad, and there's nothing in it that makes it worth watching.

To me it's incomprehensible that her family shows so little understanding towards Carrie when she gets her life shattered. The "why do you take this so hard" attitude is an insult upon insults. The ending where her sister wins and Carrie appear to be satisfied with the less than adequate result just leaves you frustrated.

I enjoyed this even though it did have some problematic parts. I particularly enjoyed the acting of Giselle Bundchen, Leslie Ann Warren, Cindy Williams and Stanley Tucci.

Good watch, could watch again, and can recommend. It's great to see April Browlby on the screen ("Crazy Meg" from "How I Met Your Mother") and Jes Macallan is excellent, carrying the movie. There is plenty of humor and romantic tension leading to contentious drama, but it is a little bland. I think the production intended on the hook of "she's gotta get married by Christmas" to land, but it's not exactly reflected in the movie as the main plot point nor an actual character goal. The movie has some fun in it though so it might be a "decent curl up with someone and give it a go" night.

So, a woman is trying to win over her stolen birthright by getting married. Confusion of business in the place of love. What we get is essentially a variation on "A Christmas Carol," a person who realizes that heart is more important than profit, except it takes her an exceptionally long time to learn her lesson. As her sister puts it, Carrie is smart and yet so stupid. She fails to understand anyone on a personal level. In my opinion she does not really redeem herself in this movie. In fact I felt that no one learned much of anything. Surprisingly, this movie was very well executed. The performances, script, and photography were quite convincing. Sadly it was lacked structure and originality.

As with all these chick flicks, they cast young guys that appear not to know how to shave yet have that slovenly lazy appearance that gives the impression that they are bad guys up to no good ... it would be refreshing to see a clean shaven man like james eckhouse as possible beaus for the leading women... not that april bowlby is a catch

I can't get over how ugly the sisters wedding dress is why did they put her in that and try to make it seem like she looked good

The concept of the movie is super messed up. A family company passes on to the new HUSBAND of the first daughter to get married...not the first married daughter...her HUSBAND. what century is it again? the only saving grace was Jes Macallan because she's awesome and a few good jokes sprinkled in.