'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' Review: Nia Vardalos Finally Exhausts the 20-Year Franchise – IndieWire
Again in 2002, “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony” launched mainstream audiences to all of the heartwarming moments, overbearing kinfolk, and downright craziness of coming from a big Greek-American household. In some way, Nia Vardalos’ breakout rom-com spurred a two-decade-long trilogy; sadly, the third installment depends too closely on its beautiful Corfu surroundings as an alternative of an precise plot.
That is Vardalos’ first time within the director’s chair for the trilogy that she penned; “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony 3” can also be Vardalos’ sophomore directorial effort total. It reveals. Jokes fall flat whereas makes an attempt at seriousness (references to Alzheimer’s, the spreading of ashes, xenophobia — you already know, the stuff heavier than Aunt Toula’s tray of baklava) are downright hilarious of their off-tone supply.
Vardalos is again as Toula Portakolos, the brand new head of the household after her father Gus (Michael Constantine, who died in 2021) handed away and her mom (Lainie Kazan) now suffers from dementia. Toula is set to hold out her dad’s final want of bringing his previous journal to his childhood buddies, whom he left of their small Greek city when he got here to America.
Toula’s husband Ian (John Corbett) and school pupil daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris) be part of her on the emotional journey to Greece. As first-generation Individuals, Toula and her brother Nick (Louis Mandylor) have by no means visited the nation her dad and mom immigrated from. Fan favourite Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin) and Theia Freida (shocking scene-stealer Maria Vacratsis) additionally go for a Greek vacay to help Toula and signify her mom, who can’t journey internationally.
There’s loads of like to go round within the third movie, together with a candy reference to late actor Constantine. Sparks fly between Paris and Aunt Voula’s private assistant Aristotle (“Euphoria” alum Elisa Kacavas), leaving audiences questioning in the event that they would be the ones to tie the knot overseas final minute. It does say “marriage ceremony” within the title of the movie! However alas, there may be an odd and but not fairly surprising curveball thrown into the combination: As Toula seeks out her father Gus’ previous buddies, Gus’ now-deserted hometown is internet hosting a Portakolos household reunion, led by the generally irritating, generally endearing mayor Victory (Melina Kotselou), and there are much more Portakolos within the space than Toula even knew about…together with an illegitimate brother of hers, Peter (Alexis Georgoulis).
Seems, Gus’ ex Alexandra (a delightfully grumpy Anthi Andreopoulou) welcomed a son collectively that Gus by no means knew about, and Toula grapples along with her father’s altering legacy. Nick additionally smuggled in Gus’ ashes — which, for the document, raised some Greek Orthodox eyebrows, as cremation is frowned upon within the faith — and Toula, Peter, and Nick return Gus to his true dwelling.
“My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony” was a household favourite for this Greek American, a movie that yiayias and pappous may relate to with inside jokes that solely Greeks actually get. Sadly, the third movie does away with the primary film’s attraction and leans additional into the sequel’s tackiness.
Vardalos’ best power with “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony 3” is sourcing precise Greek expertise; the ensemble forged with recent faces to the franchise really works onscreen, and in an period the place actors fake to be ethnicities they aren’t, it’s commendable for Vardalos to elevate up rising Greek expertise. Corbett has a quiet efficiency as Ian, befriending a neighborhood monk and mainly staying out of the Portakolos household’s method. Nick’s jabs at Ian develop previous — Toula and Ian have been married for 20-some years, we get that Ian isn’t Greek! — and an ongoing “joke” of Nick shaving on the dinner desk takes up what appears like a 3rd of the display screen time.
The true gems of the entire franchise stay Toula’s cousins Angelo (Fatone) and Nikki (Gia Carides), who actually save the day and ship probably the most laughs, generally with out even uttering a phrase. The place is their spinoff? With out stepping into an excessive amount of element about *NSYNC alum Fatone and the long-lasting Carides within the third movie, their trip is the one one value having (and watching onscreen).
Any Angelo and Nikki standalone movie would have been a greater use of the finances, funded partially by producers Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, than this third movie that has a tacked-on marriage ceremony involving a Syrian refugee (Stefanie Nur Buddenbrook) and Peter’s son, who’s technically Toula’s nephew.
The movie has tonally far-too-light nods to the refugee disaster in Greece and the backlash to Ukrainian and Syrian refugees within the nation, in addition to Toula and her siblings struggling via grief after dropping their father, culturally the patriarch of any Greek household. Vardalos decides to not go there, and it does an excellent disservice to what may have been a enjoyable but emotionally resonant movie.
As a substitute, “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony 3” goes for a budget laughs and the cheesy makes an attempt at pulling heartstrings. Hopefully, that is the tip of the “My Large Fats Greek” something, weddings be damned.
Grade: D+
“My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony 3” premieres in theaters September 8 from Focus Options.
Adblock check (Why?)