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Parents' Guide to

Jenny's Wedding

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Earnest but awkward, poorly made coming-out drama.

Movie PG-13 2015 94 minutes
Jenny's Wedding Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Julia M.
Julia M. Adult
January 29, 2021
age 15+

Great movie with great message

I actually thought this was a great movie. Definitely not poorly made. Got me hooked straight from the beggining. Would totally rate it a 8 out of 10 movie. The actors and actresses were great. There is a little sex between women.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Margaret S.
Margaret S. Parent
June 15, 2017
age 13+
I thought the movie was made just fine. It covered the idea of someone feeling unsafe about coming out in a way that was personal, sensible and touching for the audience. There were a few things that would deem the movie inappropriate for younger audiences, but nothing terribly extreme. I think this is an important film and I am surprised I hadn't seen it sooner.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jenny (Katherine Heigl) is in a happy, committed relationship with Kitty (Alexis Bledel), but she's afraid to tell her family about it. She attends a particularly painful anniversary party for her parents (Tom Wilkinson and Linda Emond), where her brother tries to fix her up with a male friend -- and where her sister (Grace Gummer) begins to spread the rumor that Jenny's sleeping with a married man. After that, Jenny decides to come clean, but her family reacts with shock and confusion. There are cries of betrayal, and unfriendly gossip starts circulating. Despite everything, Jenny decides that she wants more than anything to start a family of her own, so she makes preparations for her wedding, with or without her family's help.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Incredibly earnest in its intentions, this lesson in tolerance suffers from astoundingly bad filmmaking, unlikable characters, and misguided attempts at metaphor. Even though it comes from veteran screenwriter Mary Agnes Donoghue (Beaches, White Oleander, Veronica Guerin), the script never sounds natural; the actors constantly struggle with dialogue that sounds written rather than spoken. Donoghue never manages to do more than simply place her camera in front of a convenient backdrop for each talking scene; it's the opposite of visual storytelling.

Even the best actors in the cast come across as positively amateurish. Maudlin pop songs kick in every so often in a vain attempt to help. The issue of gay marriage is handled respectfully but also in a way that seems aimed at only the most sheltered or conservative of audiences. Anyone else will find the movie extremely frustrating. Perhaps worst of all is the supremely awkward, wince-inducing attempt to use "dead grass" as a metaphor for a happy marriage.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Jenny's Wedding deals with coming out. What does it mean to Jenny? To her parents? Can you think of other movies that have tackled related subject matter?

  • Have you ever kept secrets from your family? What kind of secrets? What happened if/when they found out?

  • What audience do you think the movie is intended to appeal to? How can you tell?

  • Why do you think the dad smokes cigarettes in secret? Does the movie glamorize smoking in any way?

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