Shows: 3/03 12:00 PM (Cam 12), 3/07 9:15 PM (Cal), 3/09 5:00 PM (Cam 12)

“The Big Day” is a charming romantic comedy which is practically by-the-numbers. Set and made in Denmark, it shows that some tropes truly are the same everywhere. The title comes from the business Anne and her best friend Jesper run: it’s a wedding planning service, and they’re trying to get it off the ground. With the aid of flamboyant Lars, they are determined to make a go of it.
Anne and Jesper are better at dealing with other people’s weddings than their own love lives. Jesper is the only homophobic gay man in Denmark, and has managed to drive his boyfriend away. Anne is engaged to her long-time boyfriend Steen, but he is boring and stiff, and while she knows that love takes work, she’s starting to wonder if it should take this much work. Then she meets Anders, the cohost of a popular morning TV show. He’s a prospective client, having gotten engaged to his cohost Signe, but for the two of them it’s love at first sight. Anne knows she can’t afford to steal Anders from his fiancee, since The Big Day desperately needs celebrity clients, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny her heart.
The lead actors offer lively performances with plenty of charm, and while the timing is difficult to evaluate unless one speaks Danish, overall the film is sure to please fans of romantic comedy.