Today’s quick review: You May Not Kiss the Bride. After a pet photography mishap, Bryan Lighthouse (Dave Annable) winds up in debt to Vlatko Nikitin (Ken Davitian), a Croatian mobster. To pay off his debt, Bryan agrees to marry Nikitin’s daughter Masha (Katharine McPhee) so she can get a green card and stay in the US. But the scheme goes sideways when, while on their fake honeymoon to the South Pacific, Masha is kidnapped and held for ransom.
You May Not Kiss the Bride is a romantic crime comedy about an ordinary man forced into a sham marriage by a menacing gangster. Amidst death threats, kidnappings, and other vacation troubles, Bryan finds himself genuinely falling for Masha. You May Not Kiss the Bride features a light blend of humor, adventure, and romance. However, the movie’s uneven comedy, weak characters, and somewhat contrived premise hamper its efforts.
You May Not Kiss the Bride has some promising elements, but it does not use them to their fullest. The dynamic between Bryan and Nikitin is enough to push Bryan out of his comfort zone, but neither character is well-rounded enough to capitalize on the dynamic. The jokes are light and accessible, but unreliable, and many of them miss the mark. Finally, the romance between Bryan and Masha is missing a few steps to be truly satisfying.
You May Not Kiss the Bride is a decent popcorn watch when you are in the mood for a comedic adventure, but it falls well short of its premise’s potential. Flexible viewers will find it charming and amusing in places, but it doesn’t have much to offer over other movies in a similar vein. Skip it if you are looking for something romantic or more than superficially funny.
For a tropical adventure that rekindles a relationship, try Fool’s Gold. For a richer comedy about an ordinary man and his eccentric in-laws, try The In-Laws. For a more successful blend of light crime comedy and romance, try The Whole Nine Yards.
[5.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1381418/). I give it a 6.0 for decent humor and a modest adventure.