It’s Wedding month and I spoke about songs at weddings yesterday and, tomorrow, I will be at a wedding. My best friend’s son is getting married…wow. I remember when she changed his diapers. On that lovely note, I’m choosing 3 movies that are all about the wedding..kind of…
1. FATHER OF THE BRIDE-1950
I spoke about this brilliant film before and I have to go to it again because it’s a great comedy about a family getting ready to marry off their daughter, played by the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, who was going down the aisle herself, for the first of many times( little did she know she was marrying an alcoholic, abusive jerk- Nicky Hilton). Spencer Tracy plays her reluctant dad having to give away his one and only daughter. Joan Bennett plays the very happy mom who is all about making the wedding perfect. It’s very funny, better than the remake, well acted and we can relate to all of it.
2. A WEDDING-1978
This is a film I so want to see again since it has been decades since I saw this. It’s directed by Robert Altman with his signature style and has an all star cast from Lillian Gish, Mia Farrow, Desi Arnaz Jr. to Carol Burnett and Victoria Gassman. 2 wealthy families are meeting for the wedding day but the family from New York freak out because they believe the Chicago family has mob ties. The end result, no one but the immediate family from New York show up. Oh and the scion of the New York clan, played so well by Miss Gish, dies and no one notices as they keep entering her bedroom. Everyone talks over the other, a typical Altman trait with a finesse that made me laugh.
3. MY BIG, FAT, GREEK WEDDING-2002
This became a sleeper hit back in 2002 and stars Nia Vandelos, who also wrote the script, as the poor gal of a Greek family who feels she will never find a man like her sister who is not only married but have multiple kids in tow. Her parents own a Greek restaurant where everyone helps out. In comes John Corbett, a teacher, who, along with his friend, check out this place and he notices Nia. Over time, they meet again, fall in love and a wedding is planned. This is sweet, hilarious and you never think of windex the same way again. Nia took her memories, growing up in Canada with her Greek parents, helping them run their Greek restaurant.
I haven’t been to a wedding in eons so this should be nice especially since it’s held at a winery.
The last one was funny.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can think of is The Princess Bride. Or Spaceballs!
The Princess Bride is a great movie. I don’t remember the bride scene in Spaceballs
DeleteWhile I liked the remake (particularly the dynamic between Steve Martin and Diane Keaton) the original Father of the Bride has more charm. Spence, Liz and Joan are a believable family unit and all work together well. I enjoyed the follow-up Father’s Little Dividend too. Speaking of that it spotlights a pet peeve of mine with modern film. With Dividend we obviously have a sequel with the same cast, but the studio trusted the audience enough to give the film its own identity and title now they simply tack a 2,3, 4 onto the original title as if the public is too stupid to realize it’s related to the first film.
ReplyDeleteI liked A Wedding for the interestingly eclectic cast Altman assembled but I thought it ambled a bit too much in search of a point. I was not blown away with it the first time I watched so I gave it a second chance but still think it’s lesser Altman.
Love My Big Fat Greek Wedding and have watched all the sequels, which have been a series of diminishing returns without being flat out awful. None match the first though and I do rewatch it from time to time.
The three I thought of are:
The poignant Ang Lee comedy/drama “The Wedding Banquet” (1993).
The utterly delightful “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (1994)
And the small indie “Kiss the Bride” (2007)-Ten years after Matt graduates from high school he receives a wedding invitation to his former boyfriend Ryan’s wedding to Alex…. a woman (Tori Spelling)!! Sure he’s being trapped into the ceremony Matt rides to the rescue only to form a kinship with Alex and amusing complications ensue. Good supporting cast includes Tess Harper, Robert Foxworth and Joanna Cassidy.
I agree with you on the first part…I like Steve Martin and Diane Keaton together but it doesn’t have the magic like the first one. I’m sick of the 1, 2, and 15 sequels…I’m bored by it.
DeleteI like the Wedding more than you did. Glad you and I are on the same page with Greek Wedding. I still need to see the last one.
I have not seen your first and last one( Tori Spelling??) but love 4 Weddings. It is delightful.
I liked 1 & 3. Haven't seen 2. I didn't hate the remake, they could have done so much worse.
ReplyDeleteYes, they could have and it’s nice but it lacks the charm of 5he first
DeleteHi Birgit - enjoy your wedding day ... Four Weddings and a Funeral - I guess ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteMy Big Fat Greek Wedding was a keeper, for sure.
ReplyDeleteHope the wedding was fun.
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
It was lots of fun
DeleteI've seen 1 and 2 and enjoyed them. I enjoyed the remake of the first too. Rarity. As for wedding movies those would be the two I'd pick.
ReplyDeleteThey are great movies which is why I chose them.
DeleteWe've watched The Father of the Bride with Steve Martin a few times and enjoyed it quite a bit. It would be interesting to watch the original. The other two films we haven't seen.
ReplyDeleteI love the first film especially when Spencer Tracy has a bad dream..it was very funny.
DeleteI love the first film especially when Spencer Tracy has a bad dream..it was very funny.
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI've not seen your second choice, 'A Wedding', and I'm guessing I maybe wouldn't care for it a great deal because I'm decidedly not a fan of Robert Altman movies.
But I LOVED '...Greek Wedding', and even bought the DVD. Yeah, it's considered a "chick flick" but I (a "confident heterosexual" male) think it was terrific -- highly entertaining!
I've seen the original 'Father Of The Bride' a couple of times and really enjoyed it. However, I will say that the remake with Steve Martin was probably even slightly better. One of the exceedingly rare times when a remake matched or bested the original. (That scene where Martin completely loses it and comes undone in the grocery store always has me howling!)
Although it's hardly a "happy wedding" movie, that extended wedding scene in 'The Deer Hunter' was extremely memorable. It almost - very briefly - conned me into the idea that getting married wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. But I came to my senses again fairly soon.
~ D-FensDogG
Hahahaaaa...came to your senses...you are funny. I an agree because I would never want another man in my life if my hubby would die..eww, too gruesome.
DeleteI think the first movie is better than the remake but it's apples and oranges I guess.
I still have to see The Deer Hunter.
Father of the Bride was another classic.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a pain-free day.
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Pai is bad...but glad you like that classic
DeleteI enjoyed the Steve Martin version of "Father of the Bride." Although the Spencer Tracy one looks interesting. Also interesting was seeing Joan Bennett-I'm used to seeing her in "Dark Shadows"...lol.
ReplyDeleteJoan Bennett was a femme Fatale a few years before. In fact, her husband, in the early 50s shot their chauffeur in the groin believing she and the chauffeur were having an affair. Don't know if they were.
Delete