Striking for Same-Sex Marriage: John Stamos Stars In 'Wedding Wars'
Gena Hymowech, TWIT Magazine

On December 11, a new cable TV-movie (A&E Network) will take a light look at a very serious subject: same-sex marriage.

Wedding Wars stars John Stamos (who just joined the cast of ER, but is probably best known for playing Uncle Jesse on the cult favorite Full House) and James Brolin (a legendary actor who recently worked in the TV-film The Reagans, and is married to diva, actress, singer, and gay icon Barbra Streisand). Eric Dane (from X-Men and Grey’s Anatomy, where he plays the famous Dr. McSteamy), and Bonnie Somerville (from The O.C. and Grosse Pointe) help round out the cast.

The romantic comedy was written by Stephen Mazur (who also co-wrote the script for the Jim Carrey film Liar, Liar), and directed by Jim Fall (known for directing another gay romantic comedy, Trick, and the children’s flick The Lizzie McGuire Movie). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are the executive producers.

In the film, Stamos plays a gay party planner named Shel, who has committed to planning the wedding of his straight brother Ben (Dane), but decides to strike when he discovers that Ben is the one who wrote the governor of Maine’s speech against same-sex marriage. (Ben is the governor’s campaign manager and is also marrying the governor of Maine’s daughter, Maggie, played by Somerville.)

“Initially, my character has a knee-jerk reaction,” Stamos told Entertainment Tonight. “If my brother can have something, why can’t I? The point is, initially, Shel [strikes] because he is mad at his brother.”

Shel’s act of protest soon gets national attention, with gay men everywhere going on strike at their jobs. The wedding—now being planned by a far less capable person—and the marriage are suddenly in danger of falling apart.

“It’s My Best Friend’s Wedding meets In & Out,” Bob DeBitetto, general manager of A&E, was quoted as saying in a USA Today story. “It is a lighthearted romantic comedy, but it addresses an issue of some weight in a way that is accessible.” ... More?