Let’s say I were to compare My Big Fat Greek Wedding trilogy to The Godfather (because they’re so similar and I think Francis Ford Coppola would want me to.) The first movies were the best. You were just getting acquainted with the franchise. You’re thinking “Wow, this is good. Francis Ford Coppola and Nia Vardalos really know what they’re doing. I’m so interested in what they have to say about family dynamics.”
A little while later they announce a sequel. In the case of The Godfather, it makes sense. In the case of My Big Fat Greek Wedding you’re thinking…who’s getting married now? Anyway a lot of people think The Godfather Part II is better than the first and it very well could be. Not many people say that about My Big Fat Greek Wedding II but it is also a sequel.
Boom…we get to the third movies. Do you know what they both have in common? Both the worst in the franchise.
I am one of the people in this world who can say they watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 in theaters.
I enjoy the franchise and appreciate Nia Vardalos as a writer/director. I’m not going to trash the film since I know it is a passion project for Vardalos and I greatly appreciate that she writes and directs her material. However, there was sadly a decline in quality from the previous installments. The film tries to be a heartfelt comedy/drama. The comedy aspects fall flat with stale jokes and unbelievable character situations that are ridiculously over-the-top. While the more dramatic moments don’t pack an emotional punch.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 suffers from a bloated storyline. The first film excelled by exploring a young couple in love despite their family’s cultural differences. While the Portokalos family is still the heart of the film, the third installment doesn’t know where to focus. I may need to draw a map to summarize all of the plot points. Gus (Toula’s father) passed away and the family takes off to Greece for a family reunion in his homeland. The movie explores how grief impacts Toula and the family in different ways after the passing of Gus. I appreciate that theme. Yet, there are a ton of other themes packed in with it. The family meets up with Victory, the zany town mayor and this leads to countless side plots with practically every relative in the cast.
“But where is the wedding!?” You’re freaking out right now because I haven’t mentioned it and the movie is called My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Don’t worry, there is a wedding. It barely effects the plot at all, but you know if this movie is gonna do anything, it’s have a wedding.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 suffers from stale humor and a bloated storyline. The latest installment in the franchise fails to capture the magic of the original film.
My Rating: 4/10