By Liz Lopez
Rating: B-
It does not seem it has been 14 years since the very successful romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding hit theaters and became a high grossing film, so much so that many of us who enjoyed it have been more than hopeful and very anxious to view a sequel to it. Universal Pictures is now releasing this highly anticipated sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, in theaters nationwide this weekend, with some early screenings available this evening, Thursday, March 24th in some cities. Will it fulfill what everyone wants to see of the married life between Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian Miller (John Corbett) as well as her extended Portokalos family?
Although I heard numerous people laughing in the theater when I attended the screening, I can’t say I enjoyed all of the humor written into the script by Ms. Vardalos, who stars in the film and is an Executive Producer. I am not sure how much can be said for the humor the screenwriter intended and how much others involved in this film’s production influenced the interpretation of these clichés and jokes that are available in so many other films, especially for Toula’s father, Gus (Michael Constantine). Overall I enjoyed the film as it focused on three generations as they entered a different stage in their lives, despite that there are some very predictable scenes.
The Portokalos family still lives within yards from each other. Gus and Maria (Constantine and Lainie Kazan) have their large home, Toula (Vardalos) and Ian are in a separate home with their teenage daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris), and the other siblings, uncles and aunts are in the same neighborhood along the same street. All still so close that it is suffocating and everyone knows everything about the others. Unfortunately, as her parents are aging, they need her too much, her daughter does not and Ian feels neglected when Toula focuses on the clan’s needs or demands.
Kirk Jones, (Waking Ned Devine, 1998) directs the feature comedy. Reprising their roles are Rita Wilson who both produces and appears in the sequel as Anna; her onscreen husband, John Stamos as George, Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula, along with Corbett, Constantine and Kazan.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 1 hour and 34 minutes.