Soothing Streaming Movies: Father of the Bride, The Valet, Cha Cha Real Smooth

If it's too hot to leave your house, never fear. You can stay on the couch this weekend and keep yourself entertained with a number of delightful movies that have popped up on streaming services. Today's selection is a trio of lighthearted comedies, all of which feature romance and have happy endings, but maybe not quite the happily ever after you expected.

Father of the Bride: Written by Matt Lopez and directed by Gaz Alazraki, this is a charming update of the classic film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracy that was then charmingly updated in 1991 with Kimberly Williams and Steve Martin as the Bride and Father, respectively. In this version, the Bride is Adria Arjona, a young Latina who met her fiance in New York and brings him home to meet her parents in Miami after a whirlwind engagement. Her parents are played by the incredible duo of Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan, so you know that things can't go wrong from there.

We all know how this story goes as far as the Bride is concerned. There is a lot of drama around wedding preparations, and in this film, there's a whole subplot with her younger sister (played by Isabela Merced) who is a bit aimless and hasn't quite figured out her passion in life, but this wedding will give her a chance to showcase her burgeoning fashion design skills. There will be trouble with the in-laws and a lot of posturing from the Father about how he has to pay for everything, a stance that he will promptly regret. But what makes this update unique is that it is a story about immigrants and first-generation Latinos navigating America and combining their different cultures and heritages and dealing with the age-old problem of how to please your family while still staying true to yourself. And while all this is going on with the Bride, the Father has his own problems, because his wife has asked for a divorce. So really, you're getting two love stories for the price of one and it's a delightful summer treat.

The Valet: Directed by Richard Wong and based on the 2006 French movie by Francis Veber, this is a classic romcom setup - Samara Weaving plays Olivia Allan, a famous Hollywood actress who gets caught in a paparazzi photo with her married lover, Vincent (played by Max Greenfield, in an excellent bit of casting). However, another man randomly appears in that photo, so Vincent hits upon the brilliant idea of paying that man to pretend he's the one that Olivia is dating and Vincent was just the innocent bystander. That man is Antonio (Eugenio Derbez), an unassuming valet who is definitely not used to dealing with rich people and celebrities except when he has to park their cars. 

What follows is an incredibly sweet story where Olivia and Antonio become unlikely friends and help each other understand that they deserve much more than their current circumstances dictate. They both have unhappy love lives that will need to be addressed, but this movie makes their relationship blissfully platonic and supportive. And hilarious. Antonio's family is composed of an entertaining cast of characters, and a lot of the movie is just in Spanish because hey, that reflects the realities of being a Mexican family in Los Angeles. The sub-plot with his mother (played by the wonderful Carmen Salinas) is pure gold and that is the true love story of this film. It's a wonderful look at a part of LA and the people of LA that we don't ordinarily get to see in film, and you'll have a big smile on your face the whole time you're watching it.

Cha Cha Real Smooth: This is a gentle and kind movie that has a lot of heart and some very funny moments, but is mostly about two people who are ships that pass in the night. Written and directed by Cooper Raiff, he also stars as Andrew, as 22-year-old who has just graduated from college and is now living with his mother and her husband (played by the great duo of Leslie Mann and Brad Garrett) as he figures out what to do next in his life. He stumbles into a job as a party starter, getting people onto the dance floor at various bar mitzvahs and  ensuring that everyone has a good time. Which is how he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic teenage daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). Andrew has a way with Lola that Domino comes to appreciate and they quickly form a bond. But Domino is engaged. And Connor is only 22. So what happens now?

This film is sweet and its characters feel believable and lived-in. Everyone is just trying to figure out how to do the right thing, and they stumblingly get there. Along the way it is also funny and sad (the phrase "That's a period?!" uttered in absolute horror by Andrew made me burst out laughing in a scene that actually is quite dramatic) and by the end, you will feel a little bit wistful but very happy that this is how you chose to spend your day. Isn't that what summer is all about?