When two wedding parties collide in Stephen Burke’s ‘screwball Irish wedding comedy’, the results are disastrous in more ways then one. Burke makes a number of recognizable ceremonial clichés the subject of his ridicule, the neurotic runaway bride, the controlling mother, the over-protective father, various obnoxious children, but with so many characters and scenarios bordering on farcical the film ends up entertaining the stereotypes it tries in earnest to parody. Stressing the importance of love and its ability to be found in the most unexpected of circumstances is commendable if somewhat contrived and the film does touch hesitantly on some topical issues, unhappy marriages, illegal immigrants, culture clashes, that provide some depth however they are soon abandoned in favour of numerous incidents and misunderstandings that aren’t amusing or clever in the slightest. Despite its enthusiasm and admirable intentions, Happy Ever Afters is simply not funny enough to compensate for its weaknesses.
