The Wedding Bells

Review

Common Sense Media says

Sisters say "I do" to matters of the heart.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this dramedy from Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley has plenty of references to sex -- including inferred affairs and discussions about frequency and satisfaction. Nudity is limited to brief (and often obscured) glimpses of women's butts, but cleavage shots and skimpy skirts are plentiful. Teens may enjoy some of the shenanigans, but the show is probably best suited for adults who can appreciate the comedy derived from the series' tangled web of relationships, wedding-day jitters, struggles with demanding customers, and sexual banter.

  • Positive messages0
    A main character is promiscuous, often heading off to a closet to have sex with someone she just met. Mild prejudice is briefly played for laughs when two white females tell an African-American woman that they're "afraid of black people" and ask her if she has a criminal record. Some "bridezilla" behavior.
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex3
    Brief make-out sessions -- in one, a man removes his shirt. A woman's bare butt is shown from the side when her dress is ripped off; in one scene, a rear shot of a nude woman shows her back, but shadows hide the rest of her. There's plenty of cleavage, lots of talk of sex (frequency, satisfaction, etc.) -- most of it played for laughs -- and mention of affairs.
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What's the story?

David E. Kelley's romantic dramedy THE WEDDING BELLS centers on the struggles of three sisters -- Annie (KaDee Strickland), Jane (Meet the Parents' Teri Polo), and Sammy (Sarah Jones) -- to take their wedding planning business to the top of its game by mastering the art of smoothing the ruffles of jittery brides-to-be. Too often, though, looking on as a happy couple says their vows reminds them of the uncertainties in their own love lives. Although Jane is solidly married to the company's COO, Russell (Benjamin King), constant advances from the exotic head chef make her wonder what sparks might be lacking in her predictable love life. Emotionally reserved and still dealing with her parents' divorce, Annie enjoys the sexual banter she shares with company photographer David (Michael Landes) but won't let it lead to anything. Youngest sis Sammy likes the fact that wedding rehearsals bring in handsome groomsmen for her choosing, while singer Ralph (Chris Williams) just wants something more satisfying than his repetitive wedding repertoire.

Is it any good?

 

Stirring up laughs from a virtual laundry list of (sometimes clichéd) wedding mishaps -- the wedding singer gets laryngitis, a bride's mother pays off the minister to include Jesus in a Jewish ceremony, a runaway bride returns for one more shot at taking the plunge -- The Wedding Bells is fun for grown-up viewers, especially those who've planned (and lived through) a wedding of their own. But keep tweens out of earshot, since sexual references and jokes are central to the series' laughs.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about marriage. Does this series cast marriage in a good or bad light? How so? Teens, do you think you'll get married? When do you think the right time would be? Is there a "right" time to get married? What messages does the show send about relationships and love? Which characters are the most sympathetic? Why? Families can also discuss running a business. What kind of business would you run if you could? How would you deal with difficult customers? Would you want to be your own boss? Why or why not?

This review was written by Emily Ashby
Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
 
i laughed so hard i almost peed
I think this show is one of the funniest shows i have seen in a long time. It would seem that only an older audience would get the jokes but it is still histarical
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This review was written by Emily Ashby
TV rating:TV-PG
Network:Fox
Cast:KaDee Strickland, Sarah Jones, Teri Polo
Genre:Comedy
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
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NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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