Love.
If we’re being honest, I am not a big believer in romantic love. But when I watch movies like The Groomsmen, there is a certain level of hope that I am in the wrong. That love is this special thing.
Romantic love is this weird thing where people know if they know. At least that is what I have heard. Maybe I am jaded because I have never known. But as The Groomsmen: First Look starts, there is something in the meet cute that makes me see the joy in falling in love.
But not just falling in love – there is also the love that comes with friends. The unconditional no matter what they do, no matter where the road takes you, you are always going to be there for the other person.
Pete, Jackson, and Danny (Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes, and B.J. Britt) have been the best of friends since they were kids. The movie starts at a wedding, Danny’s sister’s wedding. Watching, we get to learn a little about each one of them. And we get to watch them shake their groove thing.
Weddings are just special. Normally I would try to avoid them (me being a cynic and all), but with The Groomsmen, I will happily attend. The smile on my face is activated.
Let’s dive in.
THE MEET-CUTE
Pete is a pediatrician who loves his job. He’s on the phone, at the wedding, giving some orders for a patient, when he runs into Chelsea. I think we can all agree that when Heather Hemmens walks onto the screen, you know that there is something special coming.
What you don’t realize is when you see her and B.J. Britt on the screen – it’s electric. The two have a pull – looks that show they are attracted to each other, but the reality of long-distance is too much for them. It’s hard because you can instantly tell that it hurts Pete and he barely knows anything but her name.
Like, I said, love is funny that way.
Pete, Jackson, and Danny are sitting down the next day and Danny is talking about how this can work. How Pete could be able to make it work – because he’s Pete. Pete though, doesn’t like to take chances. Pete seems afraid of failing, but the thing that Pete doesn’t seem to understand is that instant attraction doesn’t come along so often.
TO THE HOTEL
Pete, Jackson, and Danny, along with Betty head to the hotel to try and get Chelsea before she goes to the airport.
You may ask yourself who is Betty. She’s the 13-year-old daughter of Jackson (Hynes), who may be the most level-headed 13-year-old you have ever seen. It’s different seeing Hynes play a Dad, but I don’t know, I kinda like it. I like it because you can just see that Jackson loves his daughter and he values his time with her. Seeing that is something that is very special – in any character.
As the guys are standing there watching Pete run after the cab, Chelsea walks out of the hotel and asks what they are watching. They realize that Pete is chasing a cab for no reason. And honestly, I may have fallen over laughing as Pete downs water trying to catch his breath.
Leave it to Betty to get everyone away so that Pete and Chelsea can talk.
And what a talk it was. Seeing Pete stumble over his words and being so nervous talking to Chelsea, I couldn’t help but smile. It’s the awkward conversation that any woman wants. It happens to be the conversation that any woman would be lucky to have – one where a man (or a woman) – falls instantly for you and believes in the chances that are worth taking.
Seeing this from a man’s POV – all three of them talking it through and figuring out their game (though all three seem to have little to none) – was interesting. The look of satisfaction on Pete’s face when Chelsea texted.
PETE, CHELSEA & A TECHNILOGIAL BOND
Long distance isn’t easy, but these two – Pete and Chelsea – I absolutely adore their bonding through texts and phone calls. It is cute. There is nothing better than being someone’s first and last text of each day. There is some joy to be found when you’re just watching a television show together while talking.
It’s steps. And taking steps forward isn’t easy. But the graduation to video calls is where I started laughing. Pete is just taking it as it is, but Danny and Jackson – these two are enough to make anyone nervous. The two put pressure on a situation, when all Pete is trying to do is have his phone call with the girl that he really likes.
The friendship between these three may be one of the best things ever because they are all so different, but they balance each other out. It’s their willingness to be open, blunt, and hell, sometimes too paranoid that makes me adore them. Yet, I also love this because women are the same way. The steps one has to go through to do something as simple as a video call.
For a woman, there may be a lot of waxing involved and a trip to the hairdresser. We all put too much pressure on these things but the truth is, being yourself is always the best policy.
Jackson however, decides to send over a makeup artist to help out Pete. I fell out of my chair. And then I fell even more in love with Pete and Chelsea with their clocks to remind them of the time when the other one was.
That was before cussing Chelsea out for a second when her Facetime kept saying unavailable. And then when she sends a message that says she’s sorry, she can’t. What is she thinking?
Seeing Pete broken over it, I hurt for him. Heartbreak is one of the worst things in the world and when you don’t know why you have to experience it – it’s even worse. Taking a chance isn’t easy, but assuming the worst is. It’s when Chelsea calls Pete that we know we’ve gotten it all wrong.
The internet wasn’t working because of a storm, and she couldn’t do the call right then and there. Damn, we should stop jumping to conclusions, but hey – it’s only because we want Pete and Chelsea to work out.
SURPRISE I AM HERE
Milo (Hannah’s stepson) is celebrating his birthday and Chelsea shows up to surprise Pete. I legitimately had the hair on the back of my neck stand up – rooting for these two.
Pete, taking her on a date, takes her to the most upscale place, but their date is all kinds of awkward. Both of them are just so afraid to be themselves and honestly, that is all I want – for them to be themselves. I do think it is sweet that Pete is trying to impress her, but there is nothing more impressive than just being yourself.
Chelsea and Pete going to places that mean something to him and finding out things about each other – in person – is adorable. I love that they feel more at ease with the simpler things and just being together. As corny as it sounds, I am living for Pete and his cheesiness.
But when Chelsea told Pete that she actually came there to break up but she couldn’t do that because she wanted to be with Pete, I stood up and applauded. Yes, I am full of corny things.
Pete and Chelsea getting advice from others was a bad decision – because other people’s advice on your relationship is never a good idea. You know what to do for your relationship, even if that is something fearful. Facing your fears – not giving up and trying to find the courage to say I love you… well, that’s something only you can do.
Other people’s advice doesn’t always help a situation.
Pete shouting out I love you, I actually teared up. I teared up because there is just something so special about the rawness of being in love and saying it. It just was something that you could feel when he said it, even if it’s just acting.
That’s pretty powerful.
WILL YOU?
Pete deciding that he wanted to propose was special. Here we go with Jackson and Danny and their advice. I love both of them, but both of them need to calm down for a second. Their doubt – when their best friend is making one of the biggest decisions ever – bad move.
Upgrading Pete to first class for his trip to propose is a good move, but they still should have been a little quiet and held back.
Pete is going to make his mistakes and he should. From losing the ring on the conveyor belt at the airport to getting detained, to the way he proposed – sure it all seems like mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes is that Pete hasn’t started a cardio program as of yet.
But here we are.
Surprising Chelsea and having her have to come to get him – made me LOL. I loved it because I loved how he’s just willing to be as stupid as possible because he loves her. Seeing a man be stupid in a good way, well it’s what every woman wants. You want a man who is willing to do all of the things for you because you’re worth being loved that much.
And in this movie, seeing Pete willing to do that, I loved it.
A LOW-KEY MEETING
Meeting the parents is never easy. Talk about anxiety. Pete going to meet Chelsea’s parents – I was nervous. She asks him to hold on to the ring, but turns out her parents knew they were engaged and threw together a party.
As with any engagement, there are always a lot of questions. There are a lot of people who put their input in on what life should be and how you should do things. That kind of pressure is a lot. Chelsea’s parents are a lot.
Pete and Chelsea just want to live in the moment. It may be overwhelming, but Pete is holding up like a champ. Just seeing these two and that love can happen on its own timetable and in its own moments is what I loved. Things may not be perfect, but it is their relationship.
Pete lets things out that he shouldn’t, but I dare you to find a man who hasn’t said things to their partner’s parents that they shouldn’t. It’s just life and it’s how you roll with the punches.
LETS 5⭐️ HOTEL THIS WEDDING
The compromise starts with a wedding in a five-star hotel, next to the beach. Danny and Jackson show up and make a commotion. Pete, Jackson, and Danny’s friendship is a tried and true friendship and even though they act like children – it is endearing.
Pete’s Mom may be the best thing ever. She’s very out there and it’s kind of wonderful. It’s just the way that she tries to take over the wedding and challenges Chelsea’s parents on everything that is a lot. Yet, when are parents not a lot?
I think that a lot of conversations that happen around a wedding are what the drama is. The conversations that should happen between the groom and the bride. When everyone takes over and makes choices without them – well, this is why I hate weddings.
Chelsea becomes overwhelmed with everything. Pete’s Mom saying that she’s the one who is going to marry them, the guys wanting to take Pete camping, them figuring out what to do and where to live. Chelsea says that maybe they need a little time apart.
CAMPING
I legitimately can’t stop laughing and smiling over Pete, Jackson, and Danny going camping. This is a hot mess waiting to happen. The wedding is in two days and there is so much happening.
The three need a moment to talk about all of the things that are happening in life and Pete moving. They are in the middle of the woods, lost, and Pete is freaking a little.
Meanwhile, Pete’s Mom is causing havoc. She’s talking about auras and how she’s not comfortable with the dress she is wearing. I am impressed that Pete’s Mom picks up on her not wanting to wear the dress, but also I feel bad for Chelsea. I feel for her because there is this pressure to make everyone happy and the person she’s forgotten about is herself.
She needs Pete, and he’s off camping. Her wedding is happening and she seems to feel all alone. I hate that for her. There are so many feelings that go through a person when getting married and Chelsea has cold feet. I think that there is just so much on her.
Chelsea can’t please everyone and with Pete gone, it’s harder. It’s even harder for her when she can’t reach him.
Let’s just say that camping was a bad idea, but it was very, very entertaining. The way that Britt, Hynes, and Bennett are on the screen is something that I absolutely love. There is this genuine friendship between the three and that makes it an even better movie. You can’t help but care about all of the characters in this movie because all of them are portrayed with such pureness, heart, and joy.
THE STORM
The storm of the century happens when they are camping. The guys start to give Pete a hard time about his comfort zone, which results in him talking about theirs. And hey, that’s fair.
Calling out each other’s issues during a time of high stress, we all do it. They handle it better than women do. They jump to figuring out an issue – even though they are lost in the woods.
When a wedding is happening and you’re lost – probably not a good sign. Heading back to the cave to wait to figure out what to do – we’re setting up the next movies. We’ve figured out that Danny is in love with Zach and trying to figure out how why he isn’t dating… okay, we’re setting it up and I love that.
The cave talks made me cry – legitimately made me cry. Friendship is so important and these friends looking out for each other – well, dare I say that they made me believe in love a bit.
Everyone back at the hotel is worried about the boys, but Pete’s Mom finally manages to pull herself together and actually say things that are kind. Dare I say it, I am actually thinking that I don’t mind her so much now.
Sitting here and watching this, I can’t stop thinking about the lengths that people would go to for friendship and love and I really loved how special that they were able to make that. So much crap happening and it seems like everything is a bad idea, but I believe in these two.
Well, I believe in the three themes.
Jackson and Danny will make sure that Pete gets to the wedding. It doesn’t matter what it takes. All three of them make it back and just the way that you know that this is right.
That Pete and Chelsea are right. They are meant to be. They fit.
Love is a strange thing. It’s a beautiful thing. Sometimes it makes you want to pull your hair out and sometimes it makes you want to just curl up in a ball and say this is BS, but is it worth it? Movies like this make me believe so.
Yes, for a moment I had a lapse in judgment and I believed wholeheartedly in love. Don’t worry – my cynicism returned.
The wedding turned out to be perfect. And even though it wasn’t what was planned, it was what was needed.
The Groomsmen: First Look is an unexpected ride – one filled with twists and turns – but the ultimate destination is love.
And that’s a destination worth fighting for.
The Groomsmen: First Look is streaming now on Hallmark+.
