Happy Ever Afters

Genre

Screwball Romantic Comedy

Synopsis

Sometimes the happiest day of all can be the most heartbreaking. Freddie (Tom Riley) and Maura (Sally Hawkins) are getting married, only not to each other. While Freddie is entering his second marriage with the neurotic Sophie (Jade Yourell), Maura's motives for marrying Wilson (Ariyon Bakare) are more for money than love.

Then, when the two wedding parties end up at the same reception venue, the house of cards looks set to collapse on the newly weds, guests and all. Maura, a feisty single mum, not only has her daughter to content with - indeed, 8 year-old Molly is increasingly suspicious as to her mother's marital intentions - but she is also threatened with eviction from her home.

Meanwhile, the well-intentioned Wilson, an African immigrant in Ireland, is being monitored by two bungling detectives, sceptical as to whether or not this marriage is the real-deal.

When Maura clashes with Sophie, she risks blowing her ruse. Increasingly paranoid about Freddie's commitment to a second marriage, Sophie goes off the rails, leaving the party and drinking herself silly with newfound friends. Freddie, meanwhile, is stuck in the middle of it all. Threatened by a suspicious in-law and forced to deal with the confrontational Maura, he thinks his life depends on his second marriage.

Can Freddie claw back his relationship with Sophie, or is he looking for love in all the wrong places? Will Maura and Wilson's cover be blown? And can Sophie find happiness beyond the contract of matrimony? The vows have only just been spoken, but the honeymoon period is over.

Written and directed by Stephen Burke, HAPPY EVER AFTERS gives a modern twist to the classic screwball comedy. With a manic mix of romance, deception, politics, sex and love, it takes the wedding movie genre to newfound heights. (synopsis from official website)

Tom Riley's Role

Freddie Butler

As well as that, Tom Riley as the pill-popping, perfection-seeking, close-to-a-nervous-breakdown groom of the other wedding delivers a good performance. What is remarkable is that this film exploits Hollywood’s rom-com recipe, but, instead of just copying it, the filmmakers added some important ingredients to the mix, such as actors who can act. The result is a movie that feels more like quality food than junk food. Hamburg Express

Filming details / Release dates

Filming dates:

July 14, 2008 / August 18, 2008 then hiatus due to Sally's injury.

Filming completed February 2009

Filmed at Bray Head Hotel, Co Wicklow

Links

Official website
Newgrange Pictures
Facebook Group
Happy Ever Afters interviews
Verve Pictures - UK distributor / site
Haut et Court
Press pack - French release
Press pack - Irish release
Hi-res film stills
Canal Plus - film clips
Films Distribution.com
Happy Ever Afters gallery

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