The first “Father of the Bride” film made us hold our sides in both laughter and tears, meshing Steve Martin’s great comedic “Dad” character with the emotions of marrying off his “only” (to that point!) daughter. However, when viewing the sequel to this great film, I was cautious…too often, sequels play for exactly the same type of laughs as the original (think “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls”) and thus fail to deliver like their predecessor. Thankfully, “Father of the Bride II” does not fall into this trap.
With daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams, who ratchets up her acting skills in this film compared to the first) announcing she is pregnant, father George (Martin) grapples with the conflicting emotions of becoming a grandfather. Further complicating things (and adding a bit of hilarity!) is the rather unexpected pregnancy of George’s wife Nina (Diane Keaton). Thus, while coming to terms with his new identity, George also must deal with two pregnant women!
Not only is this film filled with comedic genius, though, but it also delivers just as many (if not more) touching emotional moments. Whereas the first film captured George’s equal parts happiness and sadness at seeing his daughter leave, this movie proves to be just as potent regarding George’s identity crisis. With his whole life in flux (the comedic portion of the film), George begins to remember what really matters in the first place: family.
Overall, this film is just as good as the original. The combination of genuine emotion and smart (not crude) humor is a welcome balance and counterpoint to other Hollywood fare. Let’s just say that if a “Grandfather of the Bride” were in the works, I would be first in line.
Cast
- Steve Martin as George Banks
- Diane Keaton as Nina Banks
- Martin Short as Franck Eggelhoffer
- Kimberly Williams as Annie Banks-MacKenzie
- George Newbern as Bryan MacKenzie
- Kieran Culkin as Matty Banks
Tags: 1990, Father of the Bride Part II