Father of the Bride (2022)

Over thirty years after the second version, which itself was over forty years after the first one, we get another remake.

This one has the twist that the characters are Hispanic, and we explore how their cultural norms, especially if they are immigrants, come into play.

Furthermore, it’s a dramedy instead of an outright comedy like the first remake or a woefully unfunny “comedy” like the original. We see some serious scenes involving things like the bride’s younger sister feeling like a failure but discovering her own career path and the bride’s father (who, like many immigrants came to this country with nothing but worked hard to pass on generational wealth to his children) disliking her being married to what he perceives as a deadbeat.

Also involving what is probably the biggest difference about this version – the titular father and his wife are planning a divorce, and that adds a level of poignancy as they attempt, to varying degrees, to celebrate their daughter’s happiness.

The 1991 film was clearly a remake of the 1950 film, copying some key scenes such as the father beginning the movie talking to the audience from his house after the wedding, the bride tearfully coming home after calling off the wedding temporarily, and the father trying to navigate his way through the ruckus that is the wedding. There is also narration from the father throughout both those movies.

This film is very different – so much so that I only think it even used the Father of the Bride title in order to piggyback off of that name recognition.

Well it worked. I watched it because of that. I’m glad I did though. Wonderful film that has a lot of fun scenes in its own right, carried especially by Andy Garcia’s charm.

I also saw what acting chops Gloria Estefan has. I barely even knew her music so I mostly associated her name with this clip.