Because I Said So Synopsis: In an effort to prevent family history from repeating itself, meddlesome mom Daphne Wilder attempts to set up her youngest daughter, Milly, with Mr. Right. Meanwhile, her other daughters try to keep their mom’s good intentions under control.
With her two oldest daughters getting married and having kids, Daphne constantly worries about her youngest daughter, Millie (Mandy Moore). Feeling as though Millie needs help navigating her life, Daphne begins to meddle in her love life, taking out an ad to attract suitable men to date her daughter.
Daphne rejects most of them, including Johnny, a handsome guitarist who happens to witness Daphne’s many suitor meetings, until she meets Jason, a good-looking man with a successful career, and arranges a way for Jason and Millie to meet. Unbeknownst to Daphne, Johnny finds out where Millie works, and the two meet nearby and hit it off. But Millie has also connected with Jason and finds herself dating both men, unaware of her mother’s role in her blossoming love life.
I saw Because I Said So many, many years ago, so some of it was vaguely familiar to me. In the beginning, I wondered when John Krasinski would show up and then realized I was mixing up Because I Said So with License to Wed. Whoops.
Anyway, I enjoyed it quite a bit once I remembered what this movie was about. If you’ve read any of my other reviews starring Diane Keaton, you know I adore her. Even if a movie is mediocre, if it has Diane Keaton, I’ll enjoy at least watching her in it. Because I Said So is no different. Keaton has a knack for physical comedy, and I love her best when she shifts into full chaotic mode.
Daphne and Millie’s relationship is a complicated and oftentimes exasperating one. Millie’s sisters, played by Lauren Graham and Piper Perabo (who don’t get much screen time, though I did enjoy them when they did), are well aware of this but don’t do much about it, probably because they know there’s no stopping their mother when she thinks she’s right. And what is Daphne’s response when Millie asks why she needs to do or not do something her mother wants? You guessed it! “Because I said so!”
Mille’s relationships are very different. With Jason, she’s with the kind of man her mother would love for her to marry. Successful, sophisticated, and comes from a wealthy family. Johnny teaches guitar and has a son, whom Johnny’s father often babysits. Daphne is not a Johnny fan, continually pushing Millie toward Jason. However, Millie finds herself trying to be someone she’s not with Jason. Johnny seems to be the one who accepts her for who she is… but neither man knows about the other, which creates even more complications in Millie’s life and could result in Millie ending up completely alone.
Love triangles can be a tedious trope if it’s not done well, but Mandy Moore has adequate chemistry with both Jason and Johnny, so while I already knew who Millie would end up with, it was still entertaining to watch it unfold.
Because I Said So has a good cast with a script that hits all the expected beats. It’s not great, or one I would probably watch again, but I liked it just fine. It’s worth watching for Diane Keaton, as usual, but you may also enjoy the romance!
Watched: 06/29/2023
Notable Song: Mama Said by The Shirelles
