Il padre della sposa

I re-watched this movie today after seeing it a couple of years ago. I didn't remember half of what happened in the movie, but even the stuff that I remembered amused me again. Steve Martin is his usual self, very funny, great body language...simply great. It's been a while since I've seen such a good, not laugh-out-loud funny, funny comedy. Most of the newer comedies have less realism, less normal subjects and plots, and try too hard to be funny. While this movie definitely has it's share in sentimentality, especially towards the end, pretty much most of the last thirty minutes, but it is still funny, and you don't lose interest in it. A great family comedy, it is pretty much funny for all ages. This is a good movie to sit down with the entire family and watch. Most people will enjoy it, and most people will find at least a few things to laugh at in it, if not Steve Martins nervous father character then maybe Martin Shorts character with the ridiculous accent. There's something for everybody in this one; well, pretty much, anyway. 8/10

As soon as I finished watching the 90s version of "Father of the Bride", I felt the urge to revisit my review of the original Vincente Minnelli's film, starring Spencer Tracy and Liz Taylor as the titular characters, and I couldn't believe how my feelings in a five-year span hadn't changed one bit (indeed once a father, always a father). The only difference is that five years ago I had only one daughter from a previous marriage, now I have a second and a #3 expected for June... I'm definitely bound to be thrice a father of bride but it's still about my oldest girl who's the closer time-wise to bring me the joy or either the heartbreak to see her become another man's princess.

Watching Steve Martin as George Banks, I could feel him in every mimic, in every crisped expression or angry intonation of his priceless monologues, in every tender look he gave to his daughter Annie... and that, folks, is the power of being a girl's father, it's a bond that goes beyond what you can imagine: from the day you see that little creature, you want to keep her for yourself. I guess, a boy is different, you want him to outgrow you, to be tougher and bigger but a girl is that little diamond you want to keep preciously in your little heart-shaped box. That's the way it is, and Charles Shyer's "Father of the Bride", slightly rewritten by Nancy Meyers who has the instinct for rom-com, is an enchanting exploration of paternal instinct put at the stakes of the institution of marriage. Or when you stop being "pops" and become the old man behind the young go-getter who came, saw and conquered your darling.

And so, the whole film, set in these bucolic postcard-like small towns, relies on Steve Martin's comedic timing and it's certainly the best film to showcases his range after "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". Martin has an uncanny ability to play "mature" men finding chaos in rather ordinary situations, and it's precisely because everything is so normal and mundane that his over-the-top reaction are hilarious. If anything, he doesn't imitate Spencer Tracy who was a rock but his infantile attachment to the status quo and refusal to see his girl as an adult that let all the ridicule erupt in a geyser of laughs.

And Diane Keaton as Nina Banks is the perfect counterpart for (like I always said) she always exuded that tender gentleness, that ability to sweep all the negativity through a radiant smile. You can tell she's happy for her daughter because she sees her happiness beyond her own. And she's caring enough to let her husband get a free pass, until the limit is crossed. Anyway her chemistry with Martin is tangible and as Annie, Kimberly Williams-Paisley has that little something so we can see the little flower from her father's perspective and yet she's confident, assertive and strikes as the one who is able to stand for herself while sweet enough not to hurt him, she finds the right balance and something in her smile and her frailness embodies a certain universal idea of a daughter, while Liz Taylor had already that Goddess-like beauty. Other cast members include Martin Short as the wedding planner Franck Eggelhoffer with such an improbable accent you'd wonder how many continents his ancestry covers and Kieran Culkin who's given a few funny lines here and there (he'll be more present in the sequel)

The film goes off all the stages of the wedding planning, nothing quite fresh whether you've seen the original or not, but it doesn't try to revolutionize a concept, we get the encounter with the happy future father-in-law and I must say George Newbern is certainly more memorable than his 50s counterpart and is quite believable as a man who could win Annie's heart. Then we get all the financial struggles, George trying to save money by using his own wedding's suit, and a few bits of physical comedy. Speaking of which, If there is one scene that could have been removed without hurting the narrative, that would be that pointless slapstick sequence with the new in-laws (Peter Michael Goetz and Kate McGregor-Stewart) involving a wallet, two dogs and a swimming pool, that part was totally unnecessary and beneath the story, Steve Martin deserved better and fortunately, the film gets rapidly on tracks, so we can feel for the man and his growing claustrophobia as he's surrounded by all the organizational mayhem and so in the night before the wedding, we get to the core of the real heartbreak.

Indeed, it's during the quieter and most tender moments that you just get what it's all about: a separation.

As I mentioned in the original film: it's all about these moments that set a before and an after and Annie knows well that there's no coming back and that night before the wedding carries a certain gravity. I mentioned the birth of my daughter in my review, I remember right now the last night before she came to the world, I knew it was a special night, the end of a chapter and a new beginning. One could see either the page that closes or the one that opens, you just don't turn the pages easily and that moment of realization, related in voice-over, during the ceremony (almost the same as the first) hit me really hard and redeemed all the little flaws. In fact, calling "Father of the Bride" a remake is pointless since it tells a rather universal story that any father can relate to.

I could relate five years ago, I still do and I cherish these years where I can still consider my daughter my special little girl...

I've watched Father Of The Bride numerous times over the years and it's still a good family comedy to watch Steve Martin gives a hilarious and heartwarming performance. I laughed at the way Martin's character acted when his daughter announced her wedding plans and the scene that was touching was when father and daughter were outside and snow began falling it was nice.

Martin Short's role as Franck Eggelhoffer was both comical and very funny. George Banks (Martin) a middle class man and owner of a sports shoe company has it all a great job, a nice house, a beautiful wife Nina (Keaton) and son Matt (Culkin). He's in for the surprise of his life when his 22 year old daughter Annie (Williams) comes home and announces that she's getting married to Bryan MacKenzie (Newburn)a computer genius from a wealthy family.

From then on George is in a constant state of panic because the wedding will cost too much and the fact that his daughter is grown up. However by the end of the movie he finally accepts that his daughter is an adult and has her own life.

The rest of the cast gave great performances I recommend this movie to fans of Steve Martin who enjoy his comedy antics 8/10.

I remember a few years ago seeing Father of the Bride on TV, but of course it's edited and I never finished it, it's sad, I call myself a Steve Martin fan and never finished this movie. It's such a classic in itself and is just a nice family film that's a good watch. So I decided to rent Father of the Bride the other day, I just love this movie. It's one of the rare films that is genuinely good and just means to entertain you, your family and friends as well. Steve Martin makes such a great over protective dad, as much as he drives his daughter crazy in the film, you still gotta love him that he's so protective over his baby girl. Father of the Bride is a great comedy and is a good watch with it's sweet story and lovable characters. Before Meet the Parents, there was Father of the Bride.

George has an excellent life: good job, nice home, beautiful wife, and two loving kids, one of which is his daughter who has just come home from Rome getting her masters in architecture and announces she's getting married to a man she met there, Bryan. George is going crazy, loosing his baby girl so fast and now having to deal with not being the main guy in her life that she will go too for help. George has to also deal with the crazy wedding planner, Franck Eggelhoffer, trying to break up his daughter and her fiancée, and Bryan's rich parents.

Father of the Bride is a good film and I really recommend it, it's one of those films that you get a few good laughs for and just feel good afterwards. Steve Martin made George such a lovable character, even though he's trying to break up his daughter and her fiancée, you could understand why through his narration and the way he talks, every dad could relate too. Martin Short as Franck Eggelhoffer is a little over done, but still delivers good laughs. Father of the Bride is a just a fun movie that anyone could enjoy, it gives good laughs and might even make you shed a tear.

7/10

I really want to enjoy this movie. It's cute. However, there's a major stumbling block for me. I find it nauseating that the bride in this movie is so incredibly spoiled. She expects her father, who has worked hard all his life to build a successful business, to spend $250 a head for what is probably a wedding of between 200-300 guests? Am I the only one who did the math on this one? I kept waiting for someone to say, hey there bride-to-be, you're asking way too much, but no--everyone gangs up on the father, who is concerned about the price tag, and acts as though *he's* he unreasonable one.

I know this is just a movie, and I know it's not meant to be the issue we focus on, but I find behavior like this so egregiously offensive that it largely kills the humor of an otherwise cute movie for me.