Children of the Bride (1990) by director Jonathan Sanger is the first in the "bride" series of made for television movies about the comic exploits of the Becker clan, a dysfunctional family that includes mother (Rue McClanahan), her new younger husband and her four very confused adult children.

Margret Becker (McClanahan) is nervously preparing for her impending wedding. Making the situation worse is the fact that her fiancé John (Patrick Duffy) is much younger than her and is only slightly older than her own children. She hasn't told her kids yet and she doesn't know how they'll take it. Her children are coming into town for the wedding and Margret hopes that the wedding will go as planned without any problems from her kids, not very likely as they have their own problems that they are bringing with them. Daughter Mary (Kristy McNichol) has a secret herself; she is a nun that has decided to leave the church and lead a normal life. She doesn't know how to tell her family (especially her mother) that not only is she giving up her vows but is also pregnant and the father is nowhere to be found. Oldest son Dennis (Jack Coleman) is very successful in business and a guy who really likes the ladies; he has a problem keeping his pants up and might not even be able to control himself until his mother's wedding is through. Her other son Andrew (Conor O'Farrell) has come from Florida with his two daughters. He is on the run from the children's mother who wants her kids back. But he has decided his daughters are the only things good in his life and he won't give them up without a fight. And Margret's youngest daughter Anne (Anne Bobby) is in the process of getting divorced from her second husband. Not only does she drink too much, she has a big chip on her shoulder, a lot of hostility towards men in general and also wonders if she'll ever really find the true happiness that she is looking for. If all of these problems weren't enough they also can't get along when together, her kids just can't seem to be around one another for any length of time without getting into a big argument. Will Margret be able to keep her family together long enough to have the dream wedding that she always wanted? And can she also help her children with some of the many problems that they have in their lives, possibly even making them a much closer family for it?

This was the first in this series of tv movies and is a cute comedy about family, love and trying to find happiness in this life. It is cast very well, especially McClanahan as the mother trying to hold this peculiar family together. All of her co-stars are also very good in their parts and there are many comic and dramatic moments in the film to allow them to showcase their talents. Kristy McNichol is particularly good here and is given ample opportunity to show her comic ability as well as having a few small dramatic moments. While this is an amusing television comedy there is nothing particularly groundbreaking here. It is however better than the standard tv movie fare and does manage to be charming and entertaining while also getting you involved with the many colorful characters that make up the story. Altogether an endearing and memorable little comedy about the hardest people to get along with, the family you love.

Buying note: This movie has now been released on a budget priced DVD that does not have any special features. It is available separately or as a set with the two sequels Baby of the Bride and Mother of the Bride and should be readily available in both stores as well as at the usual internet sources.

7-17-2006