‘And Mrs’ is Drop Dead Hilarious and Heartfelt
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By Elliott Cuff
Cinema—and art as an extension—have long been a canvas on which to explore complex emotions. Whether through extravagant parables or more grounded storytelling, in worlds of hope or sadness or jubilation, movies gift us the great opportunity to experience the world through the eyes of others—and see how each human trait can resonate with us in one way or another.
Perhaps the most unifying tenet of being human is grief. None of us are immune to the trailing impact of death, and throughout history there has never been one ordained method for overcoming it. We each work through grief differently—there is no correct path, and that naturally lends itself to plenty of opportunities for cinematic interpretation.
And Mrs, the latest film from Australian director Daniel Reisinger, tackles the subject of grief from a unique angle. It blends humor with heartache, telling an unconventional story about loss, regret, and self-doubt. It positions itself squarely in rom-com territory, using the romance as primarily a staging device to allow heartfelt drama to burst forth.
The film stars Irish actor and comedian Aisling Bea as Gemma, a bride-to-be who suffers a devastating personal loss when her fiancé Nathan, played by Colin Hanks, unexpectedly passes away. Gemma seeks to buck expectations and marry Nathan anyway, vowing to overcome public opinion, her concerned friends and family, and a legal loophole to become a bride regardless, thereby honoring her deceased partner’s marital wishes. In concept, the idea of a woman ignoring the sudden death of her fiancé and actively choosing to marry a dead man could become the source of comedy, but Reisinger goes beyond the laughs to draw emotion and dramatic heft from the natural well of trauma that forms under such harrowing circumstances.
Bea cut her teeth as a stand-up comic in the UK and became a household name through comedy panel show appearances, so it’s no surprise that funny moments are found throughout. But there’s more to Gemma’s strange predicament than simple laughs. One might scoff at the thought of picking out a wedding dress or organizing food and music for a wedding where only one person is destined to stand at the altar, but the movie doesn’t poke fun at the characters for you.
Gemma’s unconventional task attracts frustration and pity from those around her, particularly as the status of her mental health is brought into question. Her pillars of support dissipate until she’s left with only one person to lean on: Aubrey, the pregnant sister of the deceased, brought to life enthusiastically by Billie Lourd. Gemma and Aubrey are apples and oranges, but it’s their relationship and how they lift each other up that gives the film its heart. The same could be said for the scenes where Bea and Hanks share the screen, either in flashback form or when the former’s imagination runs wild and she visually projects her late fiancé.
Nothing about Gemma and Nathan’s relationship appears easy. Both characters have conflicting ideologies when it comes to marriage and relationships, and there is even more baggage resting beneath the surface, but inexplicable grief can reignite the fire that forged a relationship. Despite previously wavering over her impending marriage, the loss of Gemma’s life partner reaffirms her commitment to him. Loss makes us think of what could have been and what we could have said, and And Mrs uses those feelings for narrative and thematic propulsion.
Life has this funny way of throwing unforeseen obstacles in our path, barriers that we couldn’t possibly predict. Each of us has a different method for overcoming those roadblocks, whether that be acceptance, dismissal, or denial—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone. Gemma uses humor to combat her demons, her impassioned determination to burst through doors that are closed to her, and she allows her emotions to take hold when she can’t hold them back any longer.
And Mrs is a combination of those tones: it’s light-hearted and downbeat, upsetting and uplifting. The movie shifts and our perspective does too. It’s an engaging romantic/dramatic comedy that reminds us to challenge our perception of what it looks like to overcome grief.
So long as no one is caught in the crossfire, people should be allowed to move forward at their own pace and comfort, even if it seems absurd to others. Marriage can, to some, represent the legal promise of unequivocal love, so who are we to say that someone can’t commit their heart to someone whose own is no longer beating?
And Mrs will be available for digital download on September 2.
Elliott Cuff is a writer, journalist, and film enthusiast. Follow him on Instagram @elliottlovesmovies.