This movie, however, was not. Don't get me wrong it wasn't terrible and I could sit through it again, but it was a pretty standard rom-com.
The story starts with Lara Tyler, America's Sweetheart, about to marry the love of her life, writer James Arber. Unfortunately the paparazzi keep getting in the way throwing Tyler into a tizzy, which causes her to reschedule her small church wedding for a wedding far from the press on a remote island off of Scotland.
Let's just pause there for a moment. First off, you would think a celebrity as famous as Lara Tyler is suppose to be would be use to the paparazzi always being around. I'm not really sure why she throws a huge scene and basically ruins her wedding day when it was just one annoying photographer hiding inside the church organ. Two, how did Tyler come about getting these Sherlock Holmes skills in detecting the paparazzi. Three, really? She's going to marry a writer? Not even a good writer. This guy wrote one book that bombed. And finally if you're going to pick somewhere remote and off the grid, why Scotland? Why not northern Canada? Or Marshall Islands? Or Idaho? Seriously people, what's in Idaho other than potatoes? Meanwhile...
Katie, a wannabe writer, returns home to Hegg Island, the same island that Tyler and Arber plan to wed on (coincidence!). Katie has just broken up with her fiance and decides that moving home to live with her mother on an island of only 75 people, most of which are 75 or older, would be a great idea to improve her social life and find the man of her dreams... That last part was sarcasm. Her old/new boss gives her a job writing a travel book about the island. Hesitant at first she sets out to describe all of the beauty and folklore that the island has to offer.
I should backtrack for a second and mention that the reason Tyler chose to have her top secret wedding on Hegg Island is because Arber's one and only novel takes place on that very same island. Even though he has never been there. The two arrive on the island after Tyler's agents have spruced it up to make it look like the picturesque castle Arber described in his overly descriptive novel.
Now, I'm not sure why because I decided to get some ice cream at this point, but while Katie is exploring one of the local charms -a toilet- she runs into Arber. They of course have their meet cute moment and it ends with her awkwardly hitting on him. This is after of course she tears about his book thinking he isn't the writer.
The day of the wedding finally has arrived, but hours before the ceremony Tyler spots the same photographer she found hiding in the organ. She disappears and no one can find her. Her agent hoping to distract the media until they can find her and give her the private ceremony she has always wanted. Until then they need a decoy bride. And that is where Katie comes into the picture. But of course shenanigans happens and the Katie ends up being married to Arber. The two are forced to spend the rest of the day together until they can get divorce and Arber is able to find his true bride Tyler so he can get married and live happily ever after to a gorgeous and beautiful actress who seems waaaaaay more into him then he is to her.
Katie and Arber don't start their married life in a wedded bliss. In fact, quite the opposite. It almost felt like an arranged marriage. First it's just awkward. Then they respect each other. After awhile they become friends. And then they eventually fall in love. Except this happened all under twelve hours. I'll stop my summary there in case you decide to watch it and want to be surprised at the end (because you probably won't be able to predict what is going to happen).
So, like I said before the movie wasn't terrible. It had it's moments where it was charming (a scene resembling one from It Happened One Night). It's worth a watch if you are just looking for something where you can zone out for a good fifteen minutes and still be able to know what is going on.
Rating: ***
