Bride of the Year
The brief
This South African revenge comedy has all the energy of a wine-drunk friend plotting elaborate schemes at 2am, which works both for and against it. Carine Rous throws herself into the lead role with admirable commitment, but the script can't decide if it wants to be a sharp satire of wedding culture or a broad farce, landing awkwardly between both. The pacing drags whenever the focus shifts away from Lienkie's increasingly unhinged plotting, and at 98 minutes it feels about 20 minutes too long. Perfect for anyone who enjoyed the petty revenge elements of Promising Young Woman but wants something significantly lighter and less polished.
The verdict
If you have a high tolerance for messy pacing and love watching someone commit fully to petty revenge schemes, this wine-drunk energy comedy will hit the spot. If you need tight storytelling and can't handle a movie that feels 20 minutes too long, skip this one for a more polished revenge flick.
Watch with
- 👥 Friends who love messy revenge plots
- ⚠️ Anyone seeking polished comedy
Heads up
- Emotional manipulation and scheming (moderate)
- Relationship betrayal themes (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Joshua Rous
- Cast
- Carine Rous, Bouwer Bosch, Armand Aucamp, Laura-lee Mostert, Lisa Tredoux, Hanli Rolfes, Terence Bridgett
Official synopsis
When Lienkie's dream of budding a family of her own come crashing down, she hatches a devious plan to win "Bride of the Year" and get back at her ex.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Daadi Ki Shaadi (2026)
Both comedies about wedding schemes and family relationship complications.
Total runtime: 1h 38m + 2h 30m = 4h 8m
