One Small Hitch

One Small Hitch

Year: 2013

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: John Burgess

RomanceComedy

While returning home to Chicago for a family wedding, childhood friends Josh and Molly playfully agree to fake a wedding engagement to bring joy to Josh’s ailing father. Their charade quickly spirals out of control as their enthusiastic families get involved and a fake wedding is planned. As they navigate the complexities of their deception, genuine feelings begin to emerge, forcing them to choose between returning to their lives in Los Angeles or embracing a future together in Chicago.

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Timeline & Setting – One Small Hitch (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of One Small Hitch (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, Chicago

The film starts in Los Angeles and moves to Chicago for the central wedding event, using both cities as backdrops for the characters’ lives and relationships. Chicago becomes the main stage where two large families mingle, plan, and confront tensions surrounding love and tradition. Key locations include the Framery, a family business; the Rockit bar; and the 100-year-old Crystal Ballroom, all contributing to a lively, festive, and sometimes chaotic atmosphere.

🎬 City settings 🏙️ Urban backdrop 👪 Family-centered

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:57

Main Characters – One Small Hitch (2013)

Meet the key characters of One Small Hitch (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Josh Shiffman (Shane McRae)

Charming and quick-witted, Josh grapples with a growing commitment as he orchestrates a fake engagement to honor his dying father. He struggles with loyalty to friends and family while navigating deception, yet demonstrates resourcefulness and a developing sense of responsibility as the story unfolds.

🎭 RomCom Protagonist 🧭 Commitment 💼 Family-oriented

Molly Mahoney (Aubrey Dollar)

The last single woman in her Irish Catholic family, Molly endures heartbreak and wedding chaos after Lance’s infidelity. She participates in the pretense for the sake of others, but gradually asserts her boundaries and forms a genuine connection with Josh.

💖 Protagonist 🎭 Romantic foil 🏳️‍🎓 Family-oriented

Max Shiffman (Daniel J. Travanti)

The terminally ill patriarch whose wish to see Josh married drives much of the plot. His illness shapes family dynamics, tests loyalties, and motivates decisions about love, duty, and what really matters in life.

💔 Illness & Family 🎭 Emotional anchor 🧭 Guidance

Frida Shiffman (Janet Ulrich Brooks)

A strong-willed matriarch who steers family business and wedding plans. Protective and pragmatic, she keeps a watchful eye on Josh and Molly’s decisions and fights to preserve the family’s interests and traditions.

👩‍👦 Family matriarch 🕊️ Guidance 🧩 Power dynamic

Carla Mahoney (Rebecca Spence)

Sean’s wife and a key bridesmaid who brings warmth and practicality to wedding preparations. She serves as a bridge between families, helping Molly and Josh navigate social expectations and wedding logistics.

👪 Bridge-builder 🧡 Supportive 🎭 Side character

Sean Mahoney (Robert Belushi)

Molly’s protective brother who reacts with anger when the engagement deception is revealed. He embodies family loyalty and moral expectations, clashing with Josh before ultimately supporting the couple’s decision.

🗡️ Family protector 🗨️ Conflict 👤 Loyalty

Giselle (Heidi Johanningmeier)

Josh’s former girlfriend who remains a presence in his life. She is understanding of his choices and open to a casual, respectful relationship, contrasting with the commitment between Josh and Molly.

💞 Former flame 🤝 Understanding 🎯 Complication

Lance (Billy Dec)

Molly’s fiancé, a musician with a flaky streak. His infidelity and unreliability trigger the central conflict and propel Molly and Josh toward reconciliation.

🎸 Flawed partner 💔 Infidelity 🧭 Catalyst

Doreen Mahoney (Mary Jo Faraci)

Molly’s mother who embodies the wedding-driven energy of the family. She participates in wedding planning and supports her daughter as the big day approaches.

👩‍👧 Family matriarch 🧭 Planning 🏵️ Tradition

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:57

Major Themes – One Small Hitch (2013)

Explore the central themes of One Small Hitch (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💍 Romance & Deception

A fake engagement is orchestrated to satisfy a dying father’s wish, driving the plot and forcing Josh and Molly to navigate trust, misdirection, and genuine affection. The deception creates tension and humor as they pretend to be a couple in front of two families. Over time, the pretense reveals real feelings and a committed bond that transcends the wedding ruse.

👪 Family & Tradition

Two intertwined families with distinct traditions converge for a wedding, illustrating how cultural expectations influence romantic choices. The Irish Catholic background and the Jewish wedding context shape decisions, conflicts, and reconciliations. The film shows how family bonds endure despite miscommunication and ritual pressures, gradually allowing honesty to heal rifts.

🌱 Growth & Responsibility

Josh moves from a carefree bachelor to someone willing to commit for life and family, prompted by love and duty. Max’s terminal illness casts a weight that pushes characters toward maturity, accountability, and reevaluating priorities. The ending emphasizes choosing love, loyalty, and shared responsibilities over ease and convenience.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:57

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Romantic Comedies with a Fake Relationship Plot like One Small Hitch

Stories where a fabricated romance sparks an undeniable and genuine connection.If you enjoyed the playful deception and genuine heart of One Small Hitch, you'll love these movies. This collection features romantic comedies where characters enter a fake relationship only to discover real love, blending humor, heartfelt moments, and satisfying happy endings.

romanticplayfulheartfeltupliftingcomedichopefuldeceptive

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a pragmatic or altruistic reason for two characters to pretend they are a couple. As they navigate the complexities of their lie for family, friends, or work, their shared experiences and forced proximity lead to authentic emotional intimacy, culminating in a confession of true feelings.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared plot structure and emotional payoff. They balance the lighthearted humor of the charade with the genuine, slow-burn romance that develops, creating a consistently uplifting and hopeful viewing experience focused on the surprise of finding love where it was least expected.

Family-Centric Romantic Comedies Similar to One Small Hitch

Romantic journeys where family dynamics and celebrations bring couples together.Fans of the warm, family-centric vibe of One Small Hitch will appreciate these movies. This selection highlights romantic comedies where family events and interactions are integral to the plot, creating a joyful, uplifting, and heartfelt atmosphere that surrounds the central love story.

family-centricwarmheartfeltupliftingromantichopefuljoyful

Narrative Summary

The plot often revolves around a family event that forces the protagonists to interact closely. The bustling, sometimes meddling, family environment provides both obstacles and catalysts for the relationship, blending cultural or generational differences with universal themes of love and acceptance, all leading to a cohesive and happy resolution for the couple and their families.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific mood: they are warm, uplifting, and centered on the intersection of romantic love and family bonds. The pacing is steady, focusing on character interactions within a family setting, and the tone balances lighthearted humor with genuine emotional weight, resulting in a profoundly hopeful feel.

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One Small Hitch Summary

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One Small Hitch Summary

One Small Hitch Timeline

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One Small Hitch Timeline

One Small Hitch Spoiler-Free Summary

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One Small Hitch Spoiler-Free Summary

More About One Small Hitch

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