Scott Thomas directs Johansson in comedic drama

Before Kristin Scott Thomas turned 12, she lost both her father and stepfather, Royal Navy pilots who died in crashes. These personal losses inspired her directorial debut, “My Mother’s Wedding”, a comedic drama about grief, family, and moving on, opening in theaters today.

Knowing the story’s roots adds weight to a film that otherwise struggles to fully land. Despite a stellar cast — Thomas as the bride, with Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, and Scarlett Johansson as her daughters — the movie lacks cohesion and emotional depth.

In the story, Thomas plays Diana, whose daughters are uneasy as she prepares to marry Geoffrey (James Fleet), a bird-loving man with no children and a comical last name: Loveglove. He’s a stark contrast to the dashing, deceased pilots from their past.

Each daughter brings her own baggage.

Johansson plays Katherine Frost, a British Royal Navy officer in a same-sex relationship. Though Johansson is a strong actor, her accent and role feel oddly detached. Miller’s Victoria is a Hollywood actress known for forgettable franchise films and fleeting romances, while Beecham’s Georgina suspects her husband is cheating and hires a private detective to find out.

The weekend is packed with emotional turbulence — unresolved relationships, commitment anxieties, and concerns about their mother’s new partner. The sisters wrestle with ideas of legacy, belonging, and identity, especially regarding marriage and last names. Some storylines are resolved, but the characters still feel stuck, as if therapy is overdue.

Thomas and her husband, journalist John Micklethwait, co-wrote the screenplay, which includes a heartfelt monologue urging the daughters to grow up and move on — a powerful moment that arrives a bit late.

The film aspires to the light, emotional resonance of a Richard Curtis rom-com but doesn’t quite reach it. There are inspired touches, such as hand-painted animated flashbacks by Iranian artist Reza Riahi, but the overall vision feels underdeveloped.

Still, Thomas makes a memorable final choice: ending the film with Carly Simon’s “Coming Around Again”, covered as a duet with Alanis Morissette — a nostalgic touch for “Heartburn” fans.  LINDSEY BAHR, MDT/AP Film Writer

“My Mother’s Wedding”, a Vertical release, is rated R for “brief nudity, some sexual material and language.” Running time: 95 minutes. ★★★★