Movie Review: ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’

What’s the story of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’?

(L to R) Nia Vardalos stars as Toula and John Corbett stars as Ian in director Nia Vardalos’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features.

The Portokalos household has been despatched an invite to take part in a reunion for all of the households who’ve moved away from the village their father got here from. It was despatched to them by Victory (Melina Kotselou), the extraordinarily passionate city mayor.

Before he handed away, Toula’s father, Gus, requested her to go to the reunion and meet his previous buddies to go on a journal he had stored of his life story. To honor his reminiscence, the Portokalos household needs to see the place their dad grew up.

Who else is in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’?

(L to R) Andrea Martin stars as “Aunt Voula” and Maria Vacratsis stars as “Aunt Frieda” in author/director Nia Vardalos’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features.

Much of the solid of the primary two films returns, together with John Corbett as Toula’s husband, Ian; Elena Kampouris as their daughter, Paris; Louis Mandylor as Toula’s brother, Nick; Lainie Kazan as Maria, Toula and Nick’s mom; Andrea Martin as Maria’s sister, Aunt Voula; Maria Vacratsis as Aunt Frieda; and Gia Carides and Joey Fatone as cousins Nikki and Angelo.

New this time are Elias Kacavas as Paris’ ex, Aristotle, and Stephanie Nur as Qamar.

Related Article: ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ Exclusive Clip

Is this ‘Greek Wedding’ value attending?

(L to R) Elena Kampouris as Paris, Elias Kacavas as Aristotle, Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula, Nia Vardalos as Toula, Louis Mandylor as Nick, and John Corbett as Ian in director Nia Vardalos’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features.

Familiarity, because the previous saying goes, breeds contempt. And after two films we’re fairly aware of Nia Vardalos’ squabbling, velcro assortment of household stereotypes. While her first effort, 2002’s ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ scored huge with audiences around the globe, emotions had cooled by the point the primary sequel danced down cinema aisles in 2016. On the proof of the third, it’s honest to take a position that for a lot of, these emotions can have congealed like day-old moussaka.

Vardalos was at all times on the core of the flicks, starring and writing the script (the idea is, in spite of everything, primarily based on her life, her household, her (now-ex) husband and the one-woman present she grew from it. Now she provides directing to the combination, and sadly the movie suffers for it. Which is a disgrace, since she has helmed earlier than with ‘ I hate Valentine’s Day’.

Here, although, the ultimate reduce feels just like the movie’s information was corrupted in one of many post-production computer systems, forcing Vardalos and her editors to piece collectively a tough meeting of scenes to inform the story. What stays is a extra a group of moments that grasp loosely collectively, scenes typically simply ending relatively than coming to a pure conclusion, storylines that ought to wrap up with actual emotion as an alternative untidily shut down.

(L to R) Actor/director Nia Vardalos and actor John Corbett on the set of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features.

The fundamental story, of the Portokalos household heading to Greece for the primary time since late patriarch Gus (Michael Constantine, who appeared within the earlier two outings however died earlier than this one was shot) moved to America a long time earlier than, meanders like a donkey slowly climbing a hill. Both blandly empty and in some way overfilled, the narrative has subplots that hardly ever serve to carry the eye.

Worse, the wacky antics of the assorted members of the family feels extra unbearable than charming this time round, unfunny bits of comedian business repeated time and again, such because the gag about discovering the Greek root of each phrase. “We know, we’re Greek” sighs one new character, and the viewers, who will possible have heard many variants on it for 2 films already, will nod their heads in pained empathy.

And the tone is far and wide, the comedy coming to a screeching halt as “emotional” music performs on the soundtrack at any time when the story confronts both the lack of Gus or the truth that his spouse, Toula’s mom Maria (Lainie Kazan) is affected by Alzheimer’s. Even makes an attempt to make mild of the latter topic fall flat.

Are there causes to have fun?

(L to R) Nia Vardalos stars as “Toula” and John Corbett stars as “Ian” in author/director Nia Vardalos’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features.

If you’ve ever wished to go to Greece or wanted an excuse to take a look at some stunning countryside, the film a minimum of has you coated on that entrance. Sprawling hillsides with small villages and glowing blue seas make some pictures seem like the Greek Tourist Board coughed up some money to assist get the film made.

On the appearing entrance, it’s simply another excuse to say thank goodness for Andrea Martin, who as Aunt Voula by no means discovered a gag she couldn’t make work. She’s the only real purpose for the film containing any real chuckles in any respect, and whereas the character is used sparingly, it’s higher at any time when she’s round, bringing strains to life. Corbett, in the meantime, although he’s simply as caught within the repetitive plot patterns, a minimum of has easygoing attraction on his aspect.

(L to R) Gia Carides stars as “Nikki” and Joey Fatone stars as “Angelo” in author/director Nia Vardalos’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features.

Otherwise, the returning veterans and the brand new faces largely simply undergo the motions, spouting strains that just about develop into catchphrases.

Vardalos has tried extending the ‘Greek Wedding’ format earlier than, and the outcome was TV spin-off ‘My Big Fat Greek Life’, which aired for all of seven episodes. Perhaps that ought to have been a warning that there’s solely a lot “life” in these household tales.

One or two candy moments and the few jokes that truly land aren’t sufficient for us to advocate saying “I do” to this one. Watch the primary one once more as an alternative with a poster of Greece on the wall.

‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ receives 5 out of 10 stars.

(L to R) John Corbett as Ian, Maria Vacratsis as Aunt Frieda, Melina Kotselou as Victory, Nia Vardalos as Toula, Elena Kampouris as Paris, Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula, and Elias Kacavas as Aristotle in director Nia Vardalos’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ a Focus Features launch. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features.

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‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ is produced by Gold Circle Films, and Playtone. It is ready to launch in theaters on September eighth, 2023.