To be honest, I had a really hard time writing this review.

The most difficult part for me is that this movie centers around the loss of a parent. Because my dad’s passing is still quite fresh, it hit a little too close to home. I still have days where I randomly start crying or have a deep sadness that completely overcomes me.

But amidst that grief, I feel so incredibly blessed that when my dad died, there were no secrets to be had. My dad had an amazing relationship with my mom, my sisters, and me. We were always open and honest, and we never allowed secrets to ruin or complicate our lives.

In fact, one of mine and Jon’s biggest rules in our home is that the word “secret” is never allowed to be used. There may be special surprises at times, but never “secrets.” Secrets lead to hiding things. Jon and I always tell Landon: if you feel like you have to keep something a “secret” from mommy and daddy, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it. We’ve made it clear to him that if anyone tells him to keep a secret from us—whether it’s an adult or a friend—he needs to come and tell us right away.

Between schools, government, and the internet it has become so easy for children to keep secrets from their parents. Parents are losing their rights each and every day. Landon needs to know that I am his mommy, and I will protect him and guide him. In our house, we are open and we communicate. We don’t hide.

Now that my rant is over, I can begin giving an overview of the biggest issue I had with this plot!

How can you have a baby and lie to your child their entire life, telling them that their father died? Not to mention, not even giving the father the chance to be a parent!

I would completely understand if there was an issue of safety, but in this movie, that is just not the case. This father and daughter were denied the opportunity to grow up and know each other until after the mother had passed away. Cyd’s mother couldn’t even tell her the truth herself—Cyd had to find out about him through her mother’s will. How awful Cyd must have felt.

The only reason I chose this particular movie was because of John Schneider. I’ve always liked him as an actor, and I happened to be quite engaged in watching Smallville at the time. I watch very few Hallmark movies, but I thought, “Hey, if John Schneider is in this movie, how bad can it be?”

Oh, how wrong I was. Let’s begin…

The Plot

Come Dance at my Wedding begins with the beautiful Cyd (Brooke Nevin) planning her wedding and thinking about her dream of becoming a therapist. Her mother has recently passed and left her with the family dance studio. During this massive time of transition, Cyd decides to sell the studio to help save for her future after the wedding and move to a larger city to pursue her career.

It is during this process that Cyd gets the shock of her life: she now co-owns the dance studio with her estranged father, Tanner Gray (John Schneider). Her mother’s last request? That Cyd finally gets to know him.

Tanner decides that he doesn’t want to sell the studio. He wants Cyd to truly think about what she would be giving up. So, Cyd and Tanner begin teaching lessons at the studio together and slowly, they form a bond. This—of course—leads to Cyd deciding not to sell the studio to a big-city corporation. (Hallmark really does enjoy saving small towns from big bad city corporations, don’t they?)

At the end of the movie, Cyd marries her fiancé, Zach (Christopher Jacot). She is walked down the aisle by her father and shares a dance with him. Cue the heartfelt moments, and everyone lives happily ever after.

The End…

My Final Verdict

As you probably noticed, I have complete apathy for this movie. It has taken me so much longer to write this review than my others because, to be honest, I completely wasted an hour and a half of my time watching a movie that just makes me angry.

Save your time, friends. This one is a skip!

Chat With Me!

What are your thoughts? Did you enjoy this movie, or did the plot drive you crazy too? Are there any other Hallmark movies on your “absolute skip” list that I should avoid? Let’s talk in the comments below!