Say ‘I do' to this remake of ‘The Wedding Banquet'
The co-writer of the original film, James Schamus, is back for this English-language update starring
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Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran in "The Wedding Banquet."
Bleecker Street/ShivHans Pictures
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That couple, Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and Lee (Gladstone) own the house attached to the garage rented by Min (Han Gi-Chan) and his lover, Chris (Yang). Chris and Angela have been friends since high school. They also have a sexual history, with each being the other's sole straight experience in bed.
After several years of estrangement, Angela's mother, May Chen (Joan Chen) has accepted her daughter's
sexuality. In fact, she's become the kind of overperforming ally that drives a lot of queer people crazy. She attends PFLAG meetings and is constantly telling everyone embarrassing stories about her daughter's awkward teenage attempts to lie about not being a lesbian.
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May is ecstatic when Angela announces that Lee is pregnant. This grandchild will silence May's friends, who are constantly bragging about grandchildren. The older of the two women, Lee worries that she is running out of time. Both women are concerned they can't afford another IVF attempt after Lee miscarries.
Han Gi-Chan, Youn Yuh-jung, and Kelly Marie Tran in "The Wedding Banquet."
Bleecker Street/ShivHans Pictures
Min's relationship with his family is far more complicated. Raised by his rich grandparents, he stands to be cut off from any money should they find out he's gay. They're waiting for him to marry. They're also expecting him to join the American arm of the family business, a job his artistic heart does not want. His stern grandmother, Ja-Young (Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung from '
When commitment-phobe Chris rejects Min's marriage proposal, he pivots to Angela. Their fake marriage will get Ja-Young off his back, and in exchange, Min will finance another IVF treatment for Lee. Ja-Young will fly in to attend her grandson's City Hall nuptials, then return home.
As in the original, the plans do not come off without a hitch. For starters, Ja-Young isn't as clueless as Min expects. She immediately calls out his sham proposal, acknowledging she knew he was gay.
Joan Chen in "The Wedding Banquet."
Bleecker Street/ShivHans Pictures
That plot development is just one of the additions that make this remake work as well as the original. In the 32 years since Lee's groundbreaking work, so much has changed for LBGTQ+ people. Ahn's remake focuses on the good things rather than the current hell we're enduring. Marriage and child-rearing are major concerns for the characters, and the film doesn't sand off its characters' rough edges.
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The actors play to their strengths, and the film is better for it. Yang leans into the humble yet hilarious persona we first saw in '
'The Wedding Banquet' wouldn't be as successful without the complex characterizations of the older characters. Chen and Youn give the film's best performances, defying stereotype while savoring the meaty roles they've been given. When the two of them share a scene, the screen lights up with joy.
Though it doesn't break any new ground, 'The Wedding Banquet' does occasionally zig when you expect it to zag. These moments, along with the performances and the unobtrusive direction by Ahn, make this a successful and fun remake.
★★★
THE WEDDING BANQUET
Directed by Andrew Ahn. Written by Ahn and James Schamus. Starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Youn Yuh-jung, Joan Chen, Han Gi-Chan. At Coolidge Corner, AMC Boston Common, Landmark Kendall Square, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, suburbs. 102 minutes. R (profanity, brief nudity)
Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
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