MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3

US, 2023, 92 minutes, Colour.

Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Martin, Gia Carides, Elias Kacavas, Maria Vacratsis.

Directed by Nia Vardalos.

And, why not? Except that this is a rather moderately fat Greek-Syrian wedding on the island of Corfu, happy celebration, but not the central event. Rather, this is a family expedition back to Greece, Tula, Ian, Louis, the aunts and the next generation going back to the village where their father came from. He has now died – and the film opens with a great deal of nostalgia, some scenes from the first two Big Fat Greek Wedding is (the first in 2003, the second in 2016) and a great number of photos reminding us of the presence of Michael Constantine, the restaurant, and his let initial laments about Tula and her marrying Ian. Lanie Kazan has a cameo role as the mother who is in and out of memory loss but gives the expedition her blessing.

As before, this is a raucous Greek comedy, in which any introvert could not survive! It is all loud, everyone in on the action, singing and dancing, arguments and reconciliations, and the importance of family, near cousins, distant cousins, and everybody included.

This film has been written and directed by Neo Vada le’s resuming her role as Tula, the anchor in the family, happily married to Ian, John Corbett again, for 20 years, having to pick up after her brother, Nick, Louis Amanda law who gets into all kinds of oddball situations but has the great desire to bring his father’s ashes to Greece and fertilise a planet near the oldest tree on the island with the ashes.

There are allowed farewells at the airport in Chicago. There is initial chaos on the plane with aunt Ruler (Andrea Martin) wanting to take over as usual. It is quieter at Athens airport where they are overcome with the views of the city but have to drive on, under the care of the mayor of the town, victory, who is Jack of all trades and has organised the reunion. Tula and Ian’s daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris) appeared in the second film but now, at college, has problems, breaking off with Aristotle who turns up at the airport to support Aunt Ruler.

More wonderful Greek island scenery. More family tangles. Tula has her father’s precious notebook which she intends to give to his three old friends from a photograph in their happy days. But, can they be found? Cousins to the rescue, flying from Chicago, on a variety of boats, visiting clubs, and, of course, success despite apprehensions that the whole thing will be a failure – except that they will have the consolation of the Greek-Syrian wedding.

All’s well that ends well even if it emerges from raucous chaos. Some naysayers declared that this film was unnecessary. Well, may be, but the fans of big fat Greek wedding is will be eager to see it nonetheless. (And the romance of the next generation – obvious foundations for Wedding 4.)

1. The popularity of the initial film, the sequel, anticipation of a further film? The characters, situations, weddings and families, the generations?
2. Audience familiarity with the characters, their welcome return, expectations of how they will behave?
3. The opening, the death of the father, the clips from the other films, the photos, Lanie Kazan in a cameo, the setting of the tone? The decision to go to Greece, to find their father’s village, the boys in the photo, Tula and her determination to find them and have a reunion?
4. Tula and Ian, their marriage, their daughter, at college, her concealing her failures? Tula and her mother, memory loss, giving her blessing? Nick and the preparation for travelling? The fathers and?
5. At the airport, Greek chaos and humour, farewells? On the plane, souvlaki, Ruler and her flirting? The attendant and control? Athens, Victory meeting them, their being overwhelmed by the views, the many, Tula driving, how to the countryside, finding the village, almost deserted?
6. The encounter with the severe Dragon lady, her look, manner of speaking, turning up, frightening them? Her back story? Her gradually mellowing, the son, the Syrian refugee, permission for the marriage?
7. Settling into the village, Victory taking charge of everything, all in the one room, Paris and Aristotle sneaking out, the club? Life in the town, the marketing and shopping, trying to find the old men, everybody offering them a drink, the effect on Tula? Going to the beach? Paris and the nude beach? Nick? The shower?
8. Tula and Ian having a holiday and relaxing? The two aunts and their conversations? Paris and Aristotle, tensions, relaxing, bonding?
9. Nick, the fathers and, measuring the age of the tree, the revelation of what he planned, the discussions with Tula, head of the family, fertilising the plants with the ashes? Shared responsibility for the family?
10. Nicky and her husband, to find the three men, the flight, the boats, the clubs, making the contacts, and their arriving on the island?
11. The wedding, the celebration, the Syrian refugee, the dancing?
12. The arrival of the old men, the reunion, the celebration? Victory and her achievement?
13. Audiences liking this family for more than 20 years? Relishing the Greek celebrations? Enjoying the comedy, the raucous touches, the sense of family?