The Wedding Banquet

A remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic (in some circles!) currently in theaters which doesn't necessarily rework the premise (a gay man agrees to marry a straight woman so she can gain her papers as a means to impress his traditionalist parents) but broaden it w/more characters to middling results. Gay couple SNL's Bowen Yang & Han Gi-chan are besties w/another couple Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone & Kelly Marie Tran who are trying to have a baby but are short raising cash for some invitro sessions. What can be done? Well since G-chan's grandmother, Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung, is coming to visit w/news to unseat him as a head of her company, the two couples decide to trick Yuh-jung into thinking G-chan is getting married to Tran (Tran will be paid so she can pay her medical bills) which sounds good but in fact turns the players' world upside down as they try to maintain their ruse which becomes a comedy of errors which'll have audiences rolling in their seats but it doesn't since by adding more characters to the mix & making the film now more gay friendly & overt (something the original didn't do since yes the characters happened to be gay but their lives didn't depend on that fact), the end product ends up being both overstuffed & underfed which when viewed through the prism of Lee's version is a shame & a slog to sit through.

The Wedding Banquet is a delightful, heartfelt remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic that takes a beloved, time-honored premise and refreshes it for a new era. While the original film navigated issues of immigration, identity, and secrecy in a delicate blend of drama and comedy, this film shifts the focus toward relationships and personal growth, exploring the emotional depth of its characters with humor and sincerity.

The film's comedy, though undeniably lighthearted, works largely because the film is brisk, without sacrificing the emotional truth of the characters. The narrative unfolds at a fast pace, each twist and turn propelled by a charming, almost sitcom-like energy.

While the plot may feel predictable at times, and some of the situations bordering on farce, the direction allows the characters to shine through the chaos, striking a balance, using humor to gloss over some of the more contrived plot points, yet never losing sight of the genuine emotional moments at the film's heart.

The blend of comedy and sincerity is where the film truly excels. It never leans too heavily into one side, allowing for moments of deep emotional truth to coexist with the lighthearted absurdity of the characters' increasingly ridiculous plans. When the film slows down, the dialogue crackles with authenticity-especially during the quieter exchanges.

There is, however, a sense that the film could have pushed further into daring or edgier territory. It does not venture into particularly risky or provocative comedic waters. While this makes it a more accessible film for a broader audience, it also feels, at times, a little safe. In the era of modern streaming comedies and edgy narratives, a more bold exploration of the entanglements that ensue might have added another layer of excitement or complexity to the film.

They took a really wonderful movie (the 1993 original), and remade it as another lazy, run of the mill romantic comedy that's trying desperately to be modern and relevant.

Bowen Yang's acting performance was distractingly bad. However, Joan Chen and Lily Gladstone's acting performances were good and solid. But they couldn't save the film.

Overall, I think this one is worth skipping and will probably be forgotten about in 5 years.

I'm glad that this movie will at least bring more attention to the original, and maybe expose people to Ang Lee's earlier work which I personally think is his best.

This movie disappoints in so many ways. The fact that this was called a remake, was a terrible idea. This should have not even been called that and should have just been a new movie altogether.

The trailer makes this movie seem like its a well paced comedy that is similar to the first movie, but it's pacing is slow and boring. Like the farewell, it's more heavy than light. Joan Chen, who isn't even a comic, was the funniest of all the other actors in the movie, but the was few and far between. Joan Chen, was excellent.

It's an OK movie, but definitely, not a true comedy and not a remake.

If they were the set the expectations of this movie the right way, it would have been easier to watch.

I know, I know, as a gay man I was supposed to love this movie (just like I did the original). But sad to say, this remake is not very enjoyable.

They get credit for putting new twists on the plot vs. The original, but pacing is waaaaay too slow and it takes forever to get going. Quite honestly, there's very little humor. The first hour drags and is pretty boring, and it's not until the grandmother shows up that things get interesting. The grandmother, in fact, is the most interesting character in the entire movie. Dialogue is mundane and the few funny lines stand out simply because there are so few of them.

With all the talent they had on hand, this could've been so much better.