FATHER OF THE BRIDE 2

US, 1995, 106 minutes, Colour.
Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Kimberley Williams, George Newbern, Kieran Culkin, B.D.Wong, Eugene Levy.
Directed by Charles Shyer.

One for the family. It is the sequel to the very popular Father of the Bride of three years ago. These are not just `feel good' comedies, they are really `feel best' entertainments. They are mostly sweetness and light and more sweetness. Television viewers will know that they are updated remakes of two very popular films of the early 50s with Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor. The sequel, on which the present film is based, was called Father's Little Dividend. But, here we have two little dividends, two babies and a film that delights in pregnancy, childbirth and babies.

Steve Martin enjoys himself as potential grandpa and Diane Keaton, thankfully, has much more to do this time. If you had mixed feelings about Martin Short's decorator, they won't be resolved this time as he has a larger role. But, all in all, it is what can be called a `nice' film.


1.Entertaining comedy? The impact of the original film? This film as a sequel - and as a remake?

2.The California settings? Affluent homes? The world of the Banks family? The in-laws? Hospital sequences? Musical score?

3.The focus on George Banks and the middle-aged father? His relationship with his daughter? Her leaving home, her having a baby? His own crisis as a mid-life grandfather? The double crisis when Nina becomes pregnant?

4.American domestic comedy? The comedy of the parent generation and their worries and crises? Letting go of their children? The comedy of the young marrieds and their having to cope, their crises, the birth of the child? The comedy of the decorators - and the flamboyant comedy? Predictable style, predictable laughs - but entertaining for the popular audience?

5.Steve Martin as George Banks? Expectations from the original? His reaction to the news of the baby? The humorous details of his mid-life crisis? Going to the gym, the new clothes, his hair, Nina's surprise? The Arab couple and the offer for the house? His decision to sell the house? Nina evicting him, his going to Annie and her husband? The final game of basketball - and the memories of the family home? Moving in with the in-laws? The reaction to Nina being pregnant? His reaction to his selling of the home, the deal for buying it back, double the money? The decision to have the nursery design and the baby shower - and the employment of Franck? His final decision to urge his daughter to move away from home? His decision to let go? The preparations for the births? The comedy in the hospital, his sedative, falling asleep, going in for the test and his running out? The mother and daughter going into labour? Franck and the drive to the hospital? The happiness of the babies being born? The farewell to Annie and Bryan? The future with Nina and the baby daughter? Steve Martin's screen presence, comedy style, slapstick style?

6.The contrast with Nina's level headedness? Her love for her daughter, able to let her go? Her reaction to George's crisis? Their making love and the conception of the baby? Her reaction to the selling of the home - and evicting George? Her feeling unwell, the tests, her pregnancy? Annie and Nina and their discussions about pregnancy, the decision to employ Franck? Her enjoyment of the preparations? Labour, in hospital, giving birth? The farewell to Annie and Bryan? The future with their daughter?

7.Annie and Bryan, the young marrieds, their plans, hopes, work, having to move away from California, opportunities? The pregnancy - and the ordeal of telling George? The preparations for the birth? The final basketball game, and Annie's love for her father? Working with her mother for the baby shower and the decoration of the nursery? The question of the move to Boston, consulting her father, his advice? The birth and the joy? Moving away from home?

8.Bryan's parents, memories of the comedy of the original, offering their house to Nina and George? The comedy of their travels?

9.Franck and his assistant, the exaggerated and flamboyant comedy? Camp humour? Redesigning everything, expensive? Their bickering with each other? Their styles? The spoof of nursery design? Franck and his desperate drive of George to the hospital?

10.The hospital, the tests, the mistaken prostate examination for George? Hospital humour?

11.The popularity of this kind of domestic and sitcom comedy?