In the age of the internet, where nostalgia rules, we are seeing more sequels and remakes than ever. Some we didn't even ask for; nearly 15 years after "My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s" original release, we are thrust back into the lives of the Portokalos family.
Despite the dramatic time jump, the film picks up almost exactly where it left off with Toula (Nia Vardalos), Ian (John Corbett), and their daughter (Elena Kampouris) living next door to Toula’s family. This, in spite of every indication pointing towards Toula and her daughter’s continued frustration with her family’s over-involvement in their lives, sets the tone for the cringe-worthy film.
The film feels regressive in a number of ways. For one, the audience has to watch Toula sink right back into the mousy persona we had watched her grow out of in the previous film. She lets her family take advantage of every aspect of her life and carries the torch by impeding on her own daughter’s life. The whole family situation is overdone, uncomfortable and utterly unrealistic. I’m sorry but no one would put up with the level of BS the Portokalos family deals out, except Ian apparently, who seems far too civil towards a family-in-law who is constantly interfering into his life.
And yet, through all of the regression, exaggerated behaviors, and bizarre non-reactions of the story, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" does an excellent job of paralleling the three generations of love stories. Writer Nia Vardalos provided wonderful insight into the types of obstacles lovers experience at each age, and Director Kirk Jones presented these stories beautifully.
Ultimately, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" isn’t going into our library of films. But, if you’re really out of movies to watch and you enjoyed the first one, you’ll probably get a few chuckles out of the film.
