Really, really, really good!
While cynics will say Alexa PenaVega will do anything to make people forget her Spy Kids days, she has nothing to be ashamed of playing vivacious wedding planner Libby Boland in Ms. Matched. It's easy to see the whole cast had a great time making this movie, and it's a lot of fun for the viewer as well. The characters are loveable, the dialogue is witty, the details are (mostly) paid attention to, and the plot is not so far-fetched that one is left rolling their eyes.
Interestingly, the writers of Ms. Matched go out the their way to address "serious" wedding issues. The viewer is continuously asked to grapple with the pros and cons of Libby's "spare-no-expense-storybook-dreams-come-true" wedding style vs. Ben's "don't-end-up-in-debt-when-starting-your-marriage" values. This story's "secondary" couple, Alex and Annie, end up eloping when the groom gets cold feet about being in the wedding "spotlight". The only thing I would have changed was Ben's motivation for writing his book. We're told he survived a bad marriage that began with a huge financial debt, and this introduces some sadness into an otherwise upbeat movie. Yes, I know "it happens", yet I would have preferred him not to be a victim but rather a "concerned bystander" who wants to prevent people from making a serious financial mistake.
The "surprise" ending is really cute, but one wonders when did they have time to visit their local recorder/registrar/county clerk office to obtain a license. Oh, that's right, it's just a movie, and Hallmark can be forgiven for skipping over the mundane details. Also, how long does the Bridal Expo where most of the movie takes place last? Taking into account all the wardrobe changes and necessary plot details, it seems like they are there for weeks! But this is all just silly nitpicking - I really enjoyed this movie and want to say "thank you" to everyone involved!
P.S.: Best line = Michelle's "Girl, you've got it bad!"
"When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." C.S. Lewis, 1952