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Funerals bring out the best in people, but weddings bring out the worst, according to a wise man. There will inevitably be disagreements about whose customs should be observed, unpleasant interactions with strangers who become part of our family, and a marathon of wedding-related activities and duties. Weddings might be stressful, but they're almost always a good source of relevant and funny material.
Edward Streeter's wry novel about the social chaos, staggering cost, guest list debates, and bittersweet emotions surrounding his daughter's wedding is still a durable foundation for a mix of broad comedy, generational conflict, and mixed feelings of pride and loss in its third feature film, not to mention the many variations it has inspired. There's a reason the title makes it clear that the father is the center of attention. We view the wedding through his eyes as an opportunity to reconsider his own place in the world, as his daughter makes her own decisions, selecting someone else to be the most important man in her life.
This version has the advantage of focusing on two Latino cultures. The "Father of the Bride" films starring Spencer Tracy and Steve Martin were about WASP households. This one is about Cuban-Americans in Florida, and it makes the use of the brilliant colors and music that are so important to them. Billy and Ingrid Herrera are played by Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan, respectively, with Adria Arjona as their lawyer daughter Sofia and Isabela Merced as her would-be clothing designer sister Cora. Sofia's fiancé, Adan (Diego Boneta), is Mexican, and the two intend to quit their law firm employment in New York to work for a non-profit in Mexico. As a result, there are several generational and cultural clashes. Instead of a Christian wedding, they want "my advisor Monica from the Zen center" to officiate. Will the wedding music be salsa or mariachi? Wait until you see Billy's expression when Adan's father says he'll bring Mexican cigars to the reception.
There are also disagreements inside the Herrera family. Billy came to America with little and worked his way up to become an architect. It meant the world to him that he was able to give his family a home that he constructed himself. He is proud of his accomplishments as well as his Cuban ancestry. Ingrid, on the other hand, believes he takes her for granted. Counseling has failed to assist her, and she is seeking a divorce. "Just because this marriage has descended into rancor and retribution does not mean the divorce has to as well," the therapist tries to reassure about what will happen next. Sofia claims that she has found someone, that she is engaged, and that she wants to marry in a month so they can relocate to Mexico and start new occupations. Billy and Ingrid vow to keep their divorce a secret until Sofia is married.
That secret takes the place of various story aspects from previous editions, emphasizing the problems between Billy and Ingrid. It passes through Steve Martin's cringe comedy of falling into his in-laws' pool and Spencer Tracy's delicate fantasy of an anxiety dream. Spencer Tracy's expression when Elizabeth Taylor tells him why she wants to put off the wedding is one of my favorite moments in any movie ever. His flawless transition from worry to relief to comprehension to profound paternal love, combined with the regretful knowledge of all the love lessons the young couple has ahead of them, is a master class in acting. (The moment is almost as excellent in Steve Martin's rendition.)
The recurrent wedding issues that we witnessed in the previous films are included in this edition. Upselling and wedding planners have a lot of relevant comedy to offer (Martin Short was a highlight of the Steve Martin version as Franck). Natalie, the "Gen Z wedding financial advisor, family therapist, and stylist," is played by Chloe Fineman of "Saturday Night Live," or someone's view of a Gen-Z person as someone who sees the world in terms of how it would appear on Instagram. Natalie answers, "Okay, Boomer," when Billy asks for a business card, and her slide display of recommended décor includes flamingos. Fineman extracts as much humor as she can from a character who is a mix of arrogance and ignorance. Then there are Billy's new in-laws, who have their own cultural imperatives and inter-family disputes, but make him feel competitive and as if he's losing control.
There are too many Natalie and not enough Cora, and several uncomfortable transitions urge re-cuts to put Billy and Ingrid at the center of the plot. But Garcia and Estefan, as well as all of our thoughts about weddings, infuse the film with so much warmth and good humor that it demands a "yes" on the RSVP.
Now available on HBO Max.
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