From - Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 1:12 AM
Quick rough draft - didn't check the spelling of names. - Includes spoilers
Cute, but you could see the ending from the very beginning of the film. You could also see the engagement before it happened. There wasn't one big punching serious message that came at the end as in its predecessor "Once I was a Beehive" but several little messages along the way. At first I felt cheated snd disappointef that I didn't get the well written, well acted, well edited message that "Beehive" gave, but on second reflection I thought about all of the small hidden messages - aka the proverbial "red flags" that people on the outside of someone's relationship are amazed that those on the inside somehow missed. When "Carrie" tells her children that it is not OK to propose in public, she is really saying that someone who is considerate of your feelings would have more sensitivity than to put you on the spot like that and would keep a private moment, a private discussion private - and sacred. "Thys" not doing that was one of the first red flags - especially going against the previous agreement to break up at the end of the semester - publicly going against it. He also didn't show consderation for her mission. Later his applying to business school in Provo without telling her didn't take into consideration her plans. Oh and taking the other girl to the same restaurant - Hello. Stalling on letting the other girl know that he was in a relationship wasn't cool either. Answers don't always come when and how they are expected. Sometimes it is as inconvenient as the night before your wedding.
The lessons that were at the end could have been drawn out a bit more and been more obvious - they were a bit quick, but really they were lessons that had all ready been taught.
"Once I was a Beehive" was funny with the incredible pacing of just enough serious added in. Writer McClain Nelson's other film "The Saratov Approach" was serious with just the right amount of comic relief. Again, the pacing of "Once I was Engaged" followed it's own formula but I thought that it still worked, others may not think so though.
Crazy that actress Claire Nederplum. (Sp?) is actually in her early thirties.
The film was falsely advertised as Paris Warner - star of "Beehive" being in it more than she was - ditto her "Beehive" Co star Mia Smith (the anxiety ridden girl with the dog.)
Special recognition needs to go to Lisa Valentine Clark for being able to shoot this film directly prior or following the death of her husband. Maybe it worked for the character showing an uncomfortablness and distracted distance in the on screen husband.
Interesting to see Tim Threfell and Pam Eichner back together playing husband and wife as they did in "One Good Man." You could see their friendship and comfortablness with one another. He oddly aged though and she didn't.
And who in the LDS cinema world doesn't totally love Barta Heiner? She's a most unappreciated gem.
The one twist at the end was similar to "Return to Me" and the British "Jack and Sarah" where we do see a wedding at the end, but just not the one that we are expecting to see. And in all Mormon frugality a relief to see that all of the over the top decorations and food were not wasted.
And, we still got to see the bride in her wedding dress. (I wonder if it was her real dress from when she married McClain?)
Again, just as it isn't fair to compare the film to the book or the stage play but to judge them on their own merits don't do that with sequels. Each is going to emphasize and focus on different things.
Oh and who is not want to go to BYU Hawaii now? I would almost be willing to take the vaccine in order to do so.
Quick rough draft - didn't check the spelling of names. - Includes spoilers
Cute, but you could see the ending from the very beginning of the film. You could also see the engagement before it happened. There wasn't one big punching serious message that came at the end as in its predecessor "Once I was a Beehive" but several little messages along the way. At first I felt cheated snd disappointef that I didn't get the well written, well acted, well edited message that "Beehive" gave, but on second reflection I thought about all of the small hidden messages - aka the proverbial "red flags" that people on the outside of someone's relationship are amazed that those on the inside somehow missed. When "Carrie" tells her children that it is not OK to propose in public, she is really saying that someone who is considerate of your feelings would have more sensitivity than to put you on the spot like that and would keep a private moment, a private discussion private - and sacred. "Thys" not doing that was one of the first red flags - especially going against the previous agreement to break up at the end of the semester - publicly going against it. He also didn't show consderation for her mission. Later his applying to business school in Provo without telling her didn't take into consideration her plans. Oh and taking the other girl to the same restaurant - Hello. Stalling on letting the other girl know that he was in a relationship wasn't cool either. Answers don't always come when and how they are expected. Sometimes it is as inconvenient as the night before your wedding.
The lessons that were at the end could have been drawn out a bit more and been more obvious - they were a bit quick, but really they were lessons that had all ready been taught.
"Once I was a Beehive" was funny with the incredible pacing of just enough serious added in. Writer McClain Nelson's other film "The Saratov Approach" was serious with just the right amount of comic relief. Again, the pacing of "Once I was Engaged" followed it's own formula but I thought that it still worked, others may not think so though.
Crazy that actress Claire Nederplum. (Sp?) is actually in her early thirties.
The film was falsely advertised as Paris Warner - star of "Beehive" being in it more than she was - ditto her "Beehive" Co star Mia Smith (the anxiety ridden girl with the dog.)
Special recognition needs to go to Lisa Valentine Clark for being able to shoot this film directly prior or following the death of her husband. Maybe it worked for the character showing an uncomfortablness and distracted distance in the on screen husband.
Interesting to see Tim Threfell and Pam Eichner back together playing husband and wife as they did in "One Good Man." You could see their friendship and comfortablness with one another. He oddly aged though and she didn't.
And who in the LDS cinema world doesn't totally love Barta Heiner? She's a most unappreciated gem.
The one twist at the end was similar to "Return to Me" and the British "Jack and Sarah" where we do see a wedding at the end, but just not the one that we are expecting to see. And in all Mormon frugality a relief to see that all of the over the top decorations and food were not wasted.
And, we still got to see the bride in her wedding dress. (I wonder if it was her real dress from when she married McClain?)
Again, just as it isn't fair to compare the film to the book or the stage play but to judge them on their own merits don't do that with sequels. Each is going to emphasize and focus on different things.
Oh and who is not want to go to BYU Hawaii now? I would almost be willing to take the vaccine in order to do so.