My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a fun, enjoyable movie that takes viewers back to the Portokalos family roots in Greece.
Since 2002, fans around the world have been enthralled with the love story of Toula Portokalos and Ian Miller. The sequel in 2016 saw the parents battle with their rebellious teenage daughter and traditional Greek customs, not to mention a second wedding.
After processing her father’s death and her mother’s declining age, Taula has decided that taking the family back to Greece is the perfect way to reconnect with her heritage and introduce her family to her homeland. A family reunion serves as the main event, but it is a bumpy ride to get from point A to point B.
The Greek holiday is filled with everything that viewers would want, sun, sea, food and an over-indulgence in culture. Comedic relief hails from Toula’s aunts Voula and Theia, whilst the romantic chemistry is found in her daughter, Paris, and love interest, Aristotle. A long bus ride, somewhat dubious accommodation, and family mystery ripple the film with countless references to its two predecessors.
Despite being plagued with criticism that the first film was reminiscent of a television sitcom, the 2002 original would go on to earn over $360 million at the international box office. There were obvious signs that there would be a sequel, however, the 14 and 21-year gaps in between have been somewhat strange, considering many would have thought after the success of the first movie there would be five or six instalments by now.
It would be naive to think that My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 would be a cinematic masterpiece that would redefine silver-screen storytelling as we know it, but credit where credit is due. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is simply a fun, inviting, and overall pleasant movie.
Every film has its flaws, and this one was no exception. Some scenes could have been edited better, the script was often sloppy, and not knowing anything about the first two films would make it very confusing. There was no recap, no information about what had happened in the seven years since audiences last caught up with the Portokalos family, and the storyline seemed to jump in between. To be up-to-date with the third instalment, re-watching the first two movies is advised.
The movie is better than expected and far better than most sequels of its kind. There was no outlaw behaviour, no scandal, and nothing reckless to distract from the main storyline. Watching Toula join the dots of her beloved father’s childhood was somewhat sentimental, and being able to see how the family had grown in recent years was a pleasurable experience.
The original 2002 debut made both Nia Vardalos and John Corbett household names, with Vardalos returning this time as both writer and director. There were a few interesting characters thrown in the mix, such as the town’s eccentric young mayor “Victory,” played by Melina Kotselou, who was crucial to the progression of the film.
On the whole, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a fun-filled 92 minutes, and despite its downsides, it makes for an enjoyable watch.
