Father of the Bride (2022): Film Review
I’m sure we’ve all seen the 1991 classic wedding comedy Father of the Bride starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton – which was itself a remake – and now we have yet another remake, but this time with a Latinx twist.
The film stars Andy Garcia as Guillermo ‘Billy’, the title character. He came to Florida from Cuba with nothing and has built a successful architecture career but is such a workaholic that he has neglected his marriage to Ingrid (Gloria Estefan) and she wants a divorce. They plan to drop this bombshell when their daughter Sofia (Adria Arjona) visits from New York but she gets in there first with news of her own – she’s engaged to Adan (Diego Boneta) and wants to get married within a month.
I know a lot of people my age grew up watching Father of the Bride all the time and it was a staple in many ’90s households (it’s always on TV) but I’ve only seen it twice so I’m not too precious about it. Fans will be pleased to know that it’s not trying to be a carbon copy. This remake has taken the core idea and turned it into its own thing and it’s different enough to feel fresh.
I wish it was funnier. The 1991 movie made me laugh loads but this one didn’t contain much humour and it felt like more of a wedding drama than a comedy. This version’s wedding planner Natalie (Chloe Fineman) is highly strung and quirky but not a patch on Martin Short‘s hilarious Franck Eggelhoffer. Also, there were some dodgy green screen moments that made me cringe (they’re definitely not on that yacht!)
I think the script could have been better. There should have been more jokes and a bit more nuance to the monotonous Billy, who is quite one-note and like a broken record. He’s certainly more annoying and stubborn than Martin’s character. However, I appreciated how the family dynamics have been modernised and how different Sofia was – she reflects the independent woman who has agency in her relationship. Plus, it’s always fun to see the parents trying to overtake the wedding planning and ignoring their children’s wishes to have an intimate non-religious affair.
My favourite among the cast was Arjona as the golden child Sofia. She had personality and her character was written well and I identified with her. I also warmed to Isabela Merced as her rebellious younger sister Cora. I’ve always been a fan of Merced and she was great yet again.
Father of the Bride is a lovely way to spend two hours. It’s not anything amazing but it’s an easy, light watch.
Available on HBO Max in the U.S. and on digital download in the U.K. On Sky Cinema from Friday 5th August.