Father of the Bride (2022) movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Father of the Bride

This comedy is now available on HBO Max

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 57 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

This movie remake of the 1991 film (Steve Martin & Diane Keaton) features a Cuban family in Miami battling traditions and modern ideas as the daughter prepares for her wedding. The film was directed by Gary Alazraki and written by Matt Lopez.

On a personal note, one of my sons is dating a wonderful girl from Cuba, so I thought it would be especially fun to watch this movie. Our family absolutely adores her and her parents. They haven’t lived in the USA very long, so Cuba is very fresh on their mind and tongue. When I was in high school, I was an exchange student in Mexico, so I also loved that Mexico was included in the story, as the daughter’s fiance in the movie is from Mexico. I enjoyed the fusion of Cuban and Mexican very much in this film.

THINGS I LIKED:

This is very much Andy Garcia’s movie. He does a great job. His wife is played by the lovely Gloria Estefan, who we already know is a wonderful singer, but also a talented actress! Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan have been friends for years and co-starred in For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story. She got involved with the film project when he texted her about the idea. Her son actually owns a movie theater drive-in in Miami!
Remakes usually get a bad rap because they just rehash the same story without adding anything new. This one adds a delightful Cuban/Mexican element while sharing the timeless story of wedding stress and complicated family drama.
It was fun to see the young Dora and the Lost City of Gold , Isabela Merced, all grown up. She’s beautiful and adorable.
Chloe Fineman was hilarious as an obnoxious Millennial wedding planner.
Two of the executive producers are Andy Garcia and Brad Pitt.
“Woke” people insist on using the term “LatinX”; however, every Spanish-speaking person I know thinks it’s ridiculous, including the characters in this movie.
I love it when not one, but many characters in a movie show growth.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It’s too bad the movie is going straight to HBO Max because a lot of Hispanic families would love to see it in theaters.
Movies like this set up very unrealistic expectations for weddings in terms of the huge amount of money that is spent.
Everyone pushes their own agenda and values on other people. All of the characters are incredibly self-absorbed.
How can you have Gloria Estefan in a movie and not have her sing?! Come on!

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored.
A lot of Spanish is spoken without subtitles.
Some profanity in English and Spanish
A bachelor party is held at a Strip club with scantily-clad women.
Parents debate whether or not an unmarried couple should be allowed to sleep together
A couple talks about getting a divorce, and arguing during most of the movie.

THEMES:

Love
Change
Respect
Honesty
Selfishness
Compromise
Being flexible
Marriage and divorce
Embracing the future
Preserving traditions vs. doing your own thing

FUNNY LINES:

* “I love dad jokes. So random.” – Natalie Vance (Chloe Fineman)

INTERESTING LINES:

* “You’re talking about the house. He’s talking about the home.” – Ingrid Herrera (Gloria Estefan)

“He’s not here to support me. We’re supporting each other.” – Sofia Herrera (Adria Arjona)
“You know, not everyone has to follow the rules.” – Cora Herrera (Isabela Merced)
“If we don’t preserve our traditions, who will, Son, who will?” – Tio Walter (Ruben Rabasa)
“A son is a son until he takes a wife. A daughter is a daughter all her life.” – Billy Herrera (Andy Garcia)