Running Away with the Bride

Sasson’s disappointing second Nights at the Mahal romance (following Marriage by Arrangement) starts with a bang, but quickly fizzles. Tech billionaire Ethan Connors crashes his ex-girlfriend’s Las Vegas wedding to proclaim his love—only to discover he’s disrupted the wrong ceremony. Divya Singh, the stranger Ethan’s accidentally declared himself to, seizes the opportunity to escape her arranged marriage. Ethan’s “save-the-day complex” kicks in, and he helps Divya flee before her overprotective family can catch them. It’s a promising first meeting, but the ensuing romance barrels from one plot point to the next without pausing to develop a real connection between Ethan and Divya. Instead, Divya confesses to Ethan that she feels trapped by her controlling family and yearns for independence, and Ethan offers her a chance to check items off her bucket list before she has to return to her unfulfilling life. The two travel the country on Ethan’s private jet as he helps her to achieve her dreams—from singing in a nightclub to finally falling in love with the right guy—all in the course of just three days. The listless plot and the characters’ flimsy backstories result in a clichéd, unconvincing romance. This is an easy one to pass. (Jan.)