We're Both Grooms – Drama Review

Ryosuke and Mizuno are a gay couple getting married on their wedding day. They met three years ago on the beach. Mizuno was getting over an ex-boyfriend when he met the friendly and charming Ryosuke. Jump forward years later, they have fallen in love and plan to get married in a wedding ceremony. Although not an official marriage, the pair wants to give their vows and commit to a long-term relationship.

All their closest friends, coworkers, and family have gathered at the wedding venue. Before the ceremony starts, Ryosuke suddenly admits to his fiancé that he hasn't come out to anyone. His invited guests all believe he's getting married to a woman. The misconception started when Ryosuke's parents saw a photo and assumed their son got engaged to Mizuno's sister. He didn't dare to correct them as his family eagerly sent wedding invitations to their relatives and acquaintances.

Since then, Ryosuke successfully kept his family and fiancé from meeting each other. However, he can't conceal the lie any longer. Mizuno is shocked and disturbed by the revelation. Unlike his partner, Mizuno doesn't share the same problem since he's already out to his family. He is close with his dad, a huge advocate and champion for him. Although the circumstances are unprecedented, Mizuno supports Ryosuke on his coming-out journey. The two grooms brave the crowd by walking the aisle together.

Many guests are surprised that Ryosuke is getting marrying a man. Ryosuke's traditional father is outraged, causing a ruckus before the crowd. He disapproves of the union between two men and threatens to leave. However, Ryosuke argues his father has outdated views and assures him everyone else is happy about their relationship. The dad doesn't believe him, but he stays behind to observe the festivities.

As the wedding proceeds, the grooms face various disruptions from the rowdy guests. Ryosuke's childhood friend Ruri makes an emotional statement, upset to discover there was never an attraction between them. Meanwhile, Mizuno's ex Hayato questions Ryosuke's trustworthiness if he had been hiding this secret from his partner. The constant drama wears out Mizuno, who gets cold feet about the ceremony. He feels discouraged and wants to call off the wedding, leaving Ryosuke very conflicted.

We're Both Grooms is a cute coming-out story with a positive message. This one-hour TV special has well-meaning intentions. It uses an outlandish plot, offbeat humour, and sentimental drama to normalize gay relationships for a mainstream audience. I love the momentous significance of a televised series that showcases two men getting married in Japan. We're Both Grooms definitely earns points for supporting an LGBT agenda.

I enjoy the novelty of coming out on your wedding day, but the premise is a stretch. Logistically, I can't imagine the circumstances escalating to a point where your family and fiancé are deceived until the actual ceremony. Even if it was possible to keep lying, would you want to drop this bombshell on everyone in such a public setting? Maybe I shouldn't overthink the silly concept, but it requires many outrageous leaps of logic. The eccentric scenario isn't believable because We're Both Grooms doesn't sell its ideas persuasively enough.

Occasionally, the wedding mix-up becomes so zany that you will giggle at the ridiculousness. We're Both Grooms has various amusing encounters, using goofy jokes to defuse the tension in the narrative. It tends to put the characters in socially awkward situations to amplify the humour. The quirky comedy is secondary to the emotional drama in the storyline. As the conflicts escalate, the playfulness subsides over time. We're Both Grooms might start off as funny and wacky, but it ends seriously and poignantly.

We're Both Grooms depicts the coming-out experience, highlighting a parent's struggle to accept his son's sexuality. Ryosuke's dad (Mantaro Koichi) is a capable actor and manages the material well. His character receives a lot of focus, almost equal to the leads. However, the storyline doesn't wow me and I think the writing is just okay. Some scenes are dramatic and touching, whereas other exchanges could be crafted more elegantly. The sentimentality resonates with me a little, but it's a mild touch rather than a powerful punch of emotions.

The BL romance is disappointingly lightweight. We see flashbacks of several milestones in Ryosuke and Mizuki's relationship, but they don't convey a passionate connection. Even the proposal scene is low-energy. Otherwise, the wedding drama produces constant friction between the couple. This animosity overpowers the few cutesy or tender interactions, so their bond feels strained and stressful to watch. Also, the characters never kiss despite the romantic occasion. Their affections are mild-mannered, reduced to holding hands and a quick hug near the end.

The two main actors are handsome, looking sharp and snazzy in their wedding attire. They're comfortable in the lighthearted moments, but their emotional performances seem somewhat iffy. It's an issue because the leads have plenty of dramatic scenes in the script, perhaps more than they can handle. Nonetheless, I like the characters, root for their relationship, and feel satisfied with the happy ending. Overall, We're Both Grooms is an average BL drama. Although it doesn't stand out exceptionally, the story is sweet and endearing enough for a casual watch.