The Decoy Bride

Last updated

The Decoy Bride
Decoy bride poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Sheree Folkson [1]
Written byNeil Jaworski
Sally Phillips [1]
Produced byRobert Bernstein
Douglas Rae [1]
Paul Ritchie [2]
Starring
Edited byDan Farrell
Music by Julian Nott
Distributed byCinemaNX
Release dates
  • 14 May 2011 (2011-05-14)(Cannes)
  • 9 March 2012 (2012-03-09)(United Kingdom)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£2,500,000
Box office$117,754 [3]

The Decoy Bride is a 2011 British romantic comedy film written by comedian Sally Phillips and Neil Jaworski, and starring Kelly Macdonald, David Tennant, and Alice Eve and set on the fictional island of Hegg, [4] supposedly located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The film was made by Ecosse Films.

Contents

Plot

American movie star Lara Tyler is hounded by the press as she prepares to wed English author James Arber. Despite the efforts of her managers Steve and Emma, the secret wedding is interrupted by paparazzo Marco Ballani, determined to photograph the "wedding of the decade". Lara resolves to find a more remote location for her nuptials.

Katie Nic Aodh returns to her hometown on the tiny Scottish island of Hegg after breaking off her engagement. She moves back into "The Sunrise", the bed and breakfast run by her terminally ill mother Iseabail, taking up her former shop assistant job. Encouraged to write a guide book on Hegg, Katie documents the island’s eccentricities.

Captivated by James' enchanting – albeit fictional – description of Hegg in his latest book, Lara chooses to have their wedding on the island. They stay at the local castle, which Steve transforms to match the book. Katie unsuccessfully flirts with an incognito James, and Marco comes to stay at the Sunrise, disguised as a monk. Suspicious of Marco and recognizing Steve from the tabloids, Iseabail deduces what is happening and calls the press. Spotting Marco staking out the wedding chapel, Lara runs off.

With Lara missing, Steve proceeds with the ceremony, using a "decoy bride" to convince Marco he has succeeded in photographing the wedding, but without informing James. Katie reluctantly accepts the role for £5,000. Heavily veiled, she arrives at the Chapel and exchanges vows with James, but her dreadful American accent alerts him to the lie. The wedding party returns to the castle as the media descend on Hegg. Steve locks Katie and James in the bridal suite, keeping the press focused on the castle until Lara can be found. Katie and James bicker, and realize they may have been officially married.

Disguised as an elderly local, Lara sees Iseabail with a substantial payment for notifying the press. Lara is touched when Marco, unaware of her true identity, reveals that he has fallen in love with her. Infiltrating the castle, he bursts into the suite. He and James tussle, before Marco declares his love for Lara and leaves to find her. James follows suit, but is forced to rescue Katie when she falls into the moat.

They go to the Sunrise, bonding as they change out of their wet clothes. Marco intercepts Lara’s voicemail for James to meet her at a nearby cove. Recognized by Marco's editor, Lara kicks him in the face, before forcing Iseabail to toss her money off the cliffs. Finding Katie with James – wearing Katie's absentee father's vintage bagpiper's costume – Iseabail reveals that she summoned the press to the wedding. Believing Katie has orchestrated everything for money, James leaves to meet Lara.

An elderly deaf couple mistake James for Katie's father, and he attempts to play the bagpipes for them as they dance. Realizing she has fallen for him, Katie finds James. He is attacked by Katie's ex-boyfriend Angus, who begs her to take him back, but she declines. She and James consult Reverend McDonough, who declares that if James can reach Lara before nightfall, their wedding can proceed; he dissolves James and Katie's marriage. Katie confesses her feelings for James, but leads the paparazzi away as he meets Lara and the reverend, with Marco watching nearby.

Months later, Katie prepares to leave Hegg; she traveled the world with her mother before she died, with Lara's help, and her guidebook has been published. Departing by boat, she sees James arriving on the island. Having come to find her, he reveals that he has dedicated his latest book to her. They reunite on the docks, and share a kiss. Lara visits Marco, and they are caught by another paparazzo.

Cast

Production

David Tennant said that the film was an homage to the 1983 Scotland-set film Local Hero . [6] The fictional island of Hegg was inspired by Jura and Eigg. [6] It received the largest grant possible from Scottish Screen, £300,000. [6]

Rehearsals started in London on 21 June 2010. Filming began on 27 June on the Isle of Man, before moving to Scotland. Filming ended on 31 July 2010. [7] Many of the outdoor scenes were filmed on the Isle of Man while other scenes were filmed in Glasgow and at the Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and by Loch Fyne in Argyll. [4]

The score was written by Julian Nott. [8]

CinemaNX distributed the film in the United Kingdom and HanWay Films is the international sales agent. [5]

Reception

The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics. It holds a score of 23% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes [9] and a score of 42/100 on Metacritic. [10]

Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times liked the film, praising the performance by Tennant and Macdonald and the mocking of celebrity culture. [11] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called the film a "bland romantic comedy in the Richard Curtis style" but praises Macdonald's performance and concludes that her performance makes the film tolerable. [12]

The A.V. Club 's Alison Willmore gave the film a "D+", criticizing that the talented cast and pretty scenery cannot save the film from the fact that it is "inescapably based on how romantic it is that someone would throw over his doting, famous fiancée for an ordinary girl" even though the story does not convey any reasons why this should happen. [13] Michael Atkinson of The Village Voice called it a "pernicious tripe suitable only for masochists and the intellectually disabled" and notes that "the supposedly frothy tone is tarry and flavorless, and the drill is painfully familiar". [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Roberts</span> American actress (born 1967)

Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. The films in which she has starred have collectively grossed over $3.9 billion globally, making her one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. After an early breakthrough with appearances in Mystic Pizza (1988) and Steel Magnolias (1989), Roberts established herself as a leading actress when she headlined the top-grossing romantic comedy Pretty Woman (1990).

<i>Father of the Bride</i> (1950 film) 1950 film by Vincente Minnelli

Father of the Bride is a 1950 American romantic comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli from a screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Edward Streeter. The film stars Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor, and follows a man trying to cope with preparations for his daughter's wedding. Father of the Bride was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Writing, Screenplay, and Best Actor in a Leading Role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Macdonald</span> Scottish actress

Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress. Known for her performances on film and television, she has received various accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.

<i>I Know Where Im Going!</i> 1945 film by Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell

I Know Where I'm Going! is a 1945 romance film by the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It stars Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey, and features Pamela Brown and Finlay Currie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Donald</span> Scottish clan

Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald, is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, recognises under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476. Queen Mary of Denmark is member of Clan Donald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Tennant</span> Scottish actor (born 1971)

David John Tennant is a Scottish actor. He is best known for portraying the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in the sci-fi series Doctor Who. In 2023, he returned to the show as the fourteenth incarnation. His other notable screen roles include DI Alec Hardy in the crime drama series Broadchurch (2013–2017) and its 2014 remake, Kilgrave in the superhero series Jessica Jones (2015–2019), Crowley in the fantasy series Good Omens (2019–present) and various fictionalised versions of himself in the comedy series Staged (2020–2022).

Ecosse Films is a British film and television production company based in London. Ecosse Films produces programs for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Showtime, Sky Atlantic, Starz Channel and WGBH.

<i>Made of Honor</i> 2008 American romantic comedy film

Made of Honor is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Paul Weiland and written by Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan, and Harry Elfont. The film stars Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, and Sydney Pollack, in his final screen appearance prior to his death less than a month after the film's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maureen Beattie</span> Scottish actress (born 1953)

Maureen Jane Beattie is an Irish-born, Scottish actress of both stage and screen.

<i>The Romantics</i> (film) 2010 American film

The Romantics is a 2010 American romantic comedy film based on the novel of the same name by Galt Niederhoffer, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film.

<i>The Lord of the Isles</i>

The Lord of the Isles is a narrative poem by Walter Scott in six cantos with substantial notes. Set in 1307 and 1314 Scotland it covers the story of Robert the Bruce from his return from exile in Ireland to the successful culmination of his struggle to secure Scottish independence from English control at the Battle of Bannockburn. Interwoven with this account is a romantic fiction centring on one of the Bruce's prominent supporters, Ronald, Lord of the Isles, involving his love for the Bruce's sister Isabel, who eventually takes the veil, and the transfer of his affections to Edith of Lorn to whom he had been betrothed at the beginning of the poem and whom he marries at the end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Leslie</span> Scottish actress (born 1987)

Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Gwen Dawson in the ITV drama series Downton Abbey and Ygritte in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, as well as playing Maia Rindell in three seasons of the CBS All Access legal and political drama The Good Fight and starring as Clare Abshire in HBO's The Time Traveler's Wife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mairi Hedderwick</span> Scottish illustrator and author

Mairi Hedderwick is a Scottish illustrator and author, known for the Katie Morag series of children's picture books set on the Isle of Struay, a fictional counterpart of the inner Hebridean island of Coll where Hedderwick has lived at various times for much of her life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Morag</span> Fictional girl from Scotland

Katie Morag is the title character of a series of children's picture books written and illustrated by Mairi Hedderwick. The gentle stories have been praised for their good humour, strong sense of place, and the feisty and independent character of Katie herself. The books are set on the fictional Isle of Struay, off the west coast of Scotland. Katie Morag lives close to the jetty above the island's only shop, where her mother is the postmistress and her father runs the general store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bride of Frankenstein (character)</span> Fictional character

The Bride of Frankenstein is a fictional character first introduced in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and later in the 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. In the film, the Bride is played by Elsa Lanchester. The character's design in the film features a conical hairdo with white lightning-trace streaks on each side, which has become an iconic symbol of both the character and the film.

<i>Katie Morag</i> (TV series) Television adaptation of the series of books by Mairi Hedderwick

Katie Morag is the television adaptation of the series of books by Mairi Hedderwick. The programmes follow the adventures of Katie Morag whose life on the fictional Scottish island of Struay is full of stories of jealousy, bravery and rivalry and peopled by an annoying little brother, busy shopkeeper parents, a perfectly perfect best friend and a couple of grandmothers who between them know everything about everything. The series was produced by Move On Up with support from BBC Scotland and commissioned by the BBC's CBeebies and CBBC channels. It also airs on the BBC's Gaelic channel BBC Alba and BBC One Scotland. Don Coutts directed the series which Margaret Matheson produced and Lindy Cameron executive produced and edited. Katie Morag is also available on BBC iPlayer for over a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lana Condor</span> American actress (born 1997)

Lana Therese Condor is an American actress and YouTuber. She made her acting debut starring as Jubilee in the superhero film X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), and gained international recognition for portraying Lara Jean Covey in the romantic comedy To All the Boys film series (2018–2021). She has also portrayed Saya Kuroki in the television series Deadly Class (2019) and Koyomi in the film Alita: Battle Angel (2019). More recently, Condor voiced the titular character in the animated teen comedy film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023).

<i>The Loud House Movie</i> 2021 American animated film by Dave Needham

The Loud House Movie is a 2021 American animated musical comedy film based on and featuring characters from the Nickelodeon series The Loud House. Produced by Nickelodeon Movies, it was directed by Dave Needham in his directorial debut, from a screenplay by Kevin Sullivan and Chris Viscardi, and starring the voices of David Tennant, Michelle Gomez, Katy Townsend, and the regular voice cast of the series; consisting of Asher Bishop, Jill Talley, Brian Stepanek, Catherine Taber, Liliana Mumy, Nika Futterman, Cristina Pucelli, Jessica DiCicco, Grey Griffin, Lara Jill Miller, and Andre Robinson, who reprise their respective roles. The first film in the franchise, set between the fourth and fifth seasons of The Loud House, it tells the story of the Louds going to Scotland, where they learn that they are descended from royalty and own a castle, while contending with an evil plot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leila George</span> Australian actress (born 1992)

Leila George D'Onofrio is an Australian actress.

<i>Father of the Bride</i> (franchise) American film franchise

The Father of the Bride franchise consists of a series of released comedy and romantic comedy films, based on the premise of the 1949 novel of the same name. The film adaptations respectively depict the events of wedding preparations from the point of view of an overly-protective father, and his growing realizations that his daughter has grown.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kemp, Stuart (25 October 2010). "'Decoy Bride' adds cast". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. "The Decoy Bride". HanWay Films . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  3. "The Decoy Bride". The Numbers . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Film quiz: can you identify the Scottish location doubles?". The Herald . 14 February 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Macnab, Geoffrey (14 May 2010). "Tennant, MacDonald, Eve walks down the aisle with decoy bride". Screen Daily. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "Hollywood comes to isle of 'Hegg' in a Local Hero for the 21st century". The Scotsman . 15 May 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  7. Cooper, Sarah (25 June 2010). "Shooting will begin on Ecosse Films' romantic comedy this weekend on the Isle of Man and Scotland". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  8. "Julian Nott Scoring The Decoy Bride". Film Music Reporter. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  9. "The Decoy Bride (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  10. "The Decoy Bride Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  11. Genzlinger, Neil (8 March 2012). "Here Comes the Bride's Understudy". The New York Times . p. C8.
  12. Scheck, Frank (9 March 2012). "The Decoy Bride: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  13. Willmore, Alison (8 March 2012). "The Decoy Bride". The A.V. Club . The Onion . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  14. Atkinson, Michael (7 March 2012). "The Decoy Bride". The Village Voice . Retrieved 23 November 2022.