[FILM REVIEW] MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 Review (2023)
Summary: After travelling to Greece for a family reunion, a woman attempts to locate her deceased father’s childhood friends.
Year: 2023
Cinema Release Dates: 7th September 2023 (Australia), TBA (Thailand), 8th September 2023 (UK), 8th September 2023 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA
Director: Nia Vardalos
Screenwriter: Nia Vardalos
Cast: Anthi Andrepoulou (Alexandra), Tannis Burnett (Edie), Jeanie Calleja (Ilaria), Gia Carides (Nikki), John Corbett (Lan), Jayne Eastwood (Mrs. White), Joey Fatone (Angelo), Dimosthenis Filippas (Monk), Alexis Georgoulis (Peter), Kathryn Greenwood (Marge), Kathryn Haggis (Marianthi), Elias Kacavas (Aristotle), Ektoras Kaloudis (George), Elena Kampouris (Paris), Spyros Kasfiks (Thanasis), Lainie Kazan (Maria), Melina Kotselou (Victory), Stavroula Logothettis (Athena), Louis Mandylor (Nick), Andrea Martin (Aunt Voula), Gerry Mendicino (Uncle Taki), Menelaos Ntaflos (Dimos), Stephanie Nur (Qamar), Nikolas Papadomichelakis (Airline Rep O’Hare), Chrissy Paraskevopoulos (Jennie), Peter Tharos (Yianni), Maria Vacratsis (Aunt Frieda), Nia Vardalos (Toula), Giannis Vasilottos (Christos)
Running Time: 91 mins
Classification: PG (Australia), TBC (Thailand), TBC (UK), PG-13 (USA)
OUR MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 REVIEWS
Alex First’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Review
In keeping with the original (2002) and the sequel (2016), My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is very much in feel good territory.
The extended Portokalos family is in fine voice. Everyone is wanting to have their say on a trip to Greece.
That comes about because they have been sent an invitation to attend a reunion for those that have moved away from the village their father came from.
Before he passed away, Toula’s (Nia Vardalos) dad, Gus, asked her to be at the gathering.
He wanted her to meet three of his old friends and pass onto them a journal he kept of his life’s story.
In turn, the Portokalos family would like to see where Gus grew up and honour his memory.
The invitation originated from the extremely passionate town mayor, Victory (Melina Kotselou), who is there to greet the clan at Athens airport.
Thereafter, they are immediately bundled into a rickety old truck, with Toula driving.
When they arrive at the village, immediately noticeable is an absence of people.
Wandering around in circles, a lady with an all but permanent scowl frightens them and she constantly pops up thereafter.
Toula and her husband Ian’s (John Corbett) daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris) finds herself warming to a nice guy she ghosted, Aristotle (Elias Kacavas).
It is only late in the movie we find out why she pushed him away. She is holding a secret close to her chest.
Talking of reveals, Toula and her brother Nick (Louis Mandylor) are in for a shock as they return to their family roots.
I should mention that much is made of Nick’s grooming habits, which are decidedly off-putting.
Shot primarily in Athens and on the island of Corfu, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 will, no doubt, have an enthusiastic Australian Greek audience.
As previously, writer and director Nia Vardalos again pushes cultural tropes with warmth and good humour.
Many of the jokes may be cheesy, but the culturally specific audience I saw the film with lapped it all up.
It is also a very good-looking film, with the scenery and cinematography thereof no doubt delighting the Greek National Tourism Organization.
It is the larger-than-life characters that continue to give the franchise buoyancy.
They are painted as respectful but opinionated.
Foremost amongst them is the scene-stealing Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula.
Her self-confident, “look at me” performance is a treat.
Her comic turn is matched by Melina Kotselou, who brings a unique sensibility to her “hands on” role as mayor. Overall, while My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has a manufactured, sit-com feel to it (some may cringe), it maintains the flow that has made the series a fan favourite.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
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