Back in the olden days of 2002, a little indie film called My Big Fat Greek Wedding utterly surprised everyone. Though it was made for only $5 million, written by a woman (!), starred a relatively unknown cast, was a PG-rated rom-com, and had the actual title My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the film went on to critical acclaim and a gross of more than $240 million. It was a sharp, witty, eccentric diamond in the rough, and proved a star vehicle for its writer and lead, Nia Vardalos, who went on to do some other, less remarkable things, like star in a few other Greek-themed films and a failed TV spin-off called My Big Fat Greek Life.
But, as the old saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try to reboot your thing over and over again.” So here we are, in 2015, watching a trailer for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. I wanted to dislike this trailer, because, like most humans, I hate when Hollywood ruins a great movie by making a terrible and unnecessary sequel. And though this trailer demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of alternative teen fashion (chokers are very mainstream right now!), and some awful teen acting (that first line about dreaming big drew a primal scream from within me), it’s overall pretty delightful, mostly thanks to the innate charm of the original film’s cast. I’ve missed Lainie Kazan, guys. I really have.
In short, here’s the premise for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2: The Reckoning: Though it’s only been 13 years since the first film, Toula (Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett) have managed to birth and raise a daughter (Elena Kampouris) who is old enough to be applying to college. Said daughter is also incredibly emo, sulking around about being Greek, having parents who love her too much, and, ostensibly, having applied too much white powder to her face. She may also be sulking because her name is Paris.
Meanwhile, Toula and Ian are desperate to connect to Paris, but also to make more time for one another/bone in a car outside of their suburban home. And Toula’s parents Gus and Maria (Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan) have just realized that they’re not actually married, as the priest who wed them never signed their marriage license. Herein lies the impetus for the second big fat Greek wedding, which will seemingly involve a pink Hummer limo and grandmotherly warnings to young Paris to “protect your polaki.” Mmk. Jury’s still out on this one. Still love you, though, Lainie.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2: First Blood Part II hits theaters March 25.
