Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

The Accidental Husband

also known as “Marido por Acaso,” “Marido por Acidente,” “Marido por accidente,” “Novio por accidente,” “Syzygos… kata lathos,” “Tuplamorsian,” “Un mari de trop,” “Un marito di troppo,” “Zufällig verheiratet”
MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for some sexual content and brief strong language.

Reviewed by: Mia J. Best
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Average
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Length: 1 hr. 30 min.
Year of Release: 2008
USA Release: UK: February 29, 2008
DVD: November 10, 2009
Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures

Marriage in the Bible

Is formalized marriage becoming obsolete? Answer
Many people are convinced that traditional marriages don’t work and that this practice should be abandoned. What does the Bible say about marriage?

Husband

Wife

Drunkenness in the Bible

What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer

Sex, Love & Relationships
Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Discover biblical answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more.
Featuring Uma Thurman (Dr. Emma Lloyd), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Patrick Sullivan), Colin Firth (Richard Bratton), Sam Shepard (Wilder Lloyd), Lindsay Sloane (Marcy), Justina Machado (Sofia), Ajay Naidu (Deep), Jeffrey Tedmori (Ajay), Nick Sandow (Larry), Michael Mosley (Declin), Brooke Adams (Carolyn), Lindsey Kraft (Lauren), Sarita Choudhury (Sunny), Yolande Bavan (Naniji), Isabella Rossellini (Greta Bollenbecker), See all »
Director Griffin Dunne
Producer Blumhouse Productions, Team Todd, Yari Film Group, Jason Blum, Anthony Katagas, Anthony Katagas, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd, Bob Yari
Distributor Yari Film Group Releasing, Sony Pictures

“Falling in love… even the expert is confused.”

As statuesque and talented an actress as Uma Thurman is, her looks and comedic timing couldn’t save “The Accidental Husband” from being a bland, predictable romantic comedy. In essence, it is an old fairy tale dressed up in modern times.

Uma plays EMMA, a successful relationship expert with a radio talk show engaged to the equally conservative and predictable RICHARD (Colin Firth) a publishing executive. DR. EMMA’s theories on relationships and love gets turned inside out when she and RICHARD go to get a marriage license, only to find out that she is “accidentally” married to Patrick Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

Unknown to EMMA, the marriage is no computer glitch. It is actually PATRICK’s way of getting revenge against the woman he feels is responsible for ruining his life by convincing his fiancée to break up with him the week of his own wedding.

As EMMA seeks to resolve the “glitch” by getting PATRICK to sign a stack of papers for an annulment, he decides to have fun disrupting her perfectly ordered world with his boisterous and colorful personality. EMMA finds herself drawn to PATRICK’s charms and PATRICK is surprised to discover real feelings for the woman he previously despised.

By turning DR. EMMA’s theories on love upside down, the film sends the message that true love is unpredictable and that passionate feelings for another wins over practical matters like long-term compatibility. It solidifies the fairy-tale of waiting for your “Prince Charming” to sweep you off your feet.

This film is mild by Hollywood standards, but, from a biblical view, there were several moral offenses. Profanity is scattered throughout the film, and the name of the Lord is taken in vain a few times. There is drinking at a bar to the point of getting drunk; a teenage boy illegally hacks into a government computer system; and a couple lives together unmarried. The one scene with characters having sex only revealed the male’s bare chest, but was viewed from outside the bedroom window. Technically, the couple having intercourse was legally married.

Real love, the God-kind, is no accident. God’s love plans, prepares and pursues to the end. God’s love is not chaotic and does not cause pain, turmoil, or confusion like an accident can.

So, what does the Bible have to say about finding real love or the perfect mate? Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife (or spouse in some translations) finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 31 gives a great illustration of a virtuous wife. And Ephesians chapter five gives us characteristics that we can look for in a potential mate. If considering a potential bride, ask yourself, “Does she display the growth potential or characteristics found in Proverbs 31? Does she display a humble character and submit to authority?” And if considering a potential husband, “Does he encourage you with the scriptures? Is he willing to sacrifice his own will and comfort to display his love for you as Christ does with the church?”

And, of course, you cannot forget to look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which gives us a clear depiction of what real love, is.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is simply a charming actor whose warmth transcends the screen. Despite that warmth, it did not generate any believable chemistry between he and Uma’s character. I did believe, however, the chemistry between EMMA and RICHARD. Colin Firth played the uptight publisher with great comedic timing and just enough vulnerability during the dramatic parts.

Overall, I do not recommend this movie, due to a poorly written story. The comedy was mildly amusing, and the bonus material on the DVD is even more bland than the movie.

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive

none

Neutral
Neutral—I enjoyed most of the movie—it was light-hearted and charming and had some good humor. But as a Christian, for my family, I can’t endorse the whole thing. My husband and I watched it with our 17 and 15 year old, and even they felt offended at times. There was premarital sex, and premarital sex is totally accepted in the movie. The main character is engaged to be married and sleeps with another man, and there was some slight nudity. Also, the “F” word is used once (by the main character in her wedding dress) and it was a little shocking and totally unnecessary. As there are in most Hollywood movies, there are a few obviously homosexual characters.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3½
Bev S, age 47 (USA)