Everyone’s favorite Greek family is back and louder than ever in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.” After 14 years in the making, the beloved smothering family reunites once again.
The Portokalas family connects with anyone who’s ever been embarrassed by their family members and takes it to a whole new level.
This much anticipated sequel is directed by Kirk Jones and written by Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos, who also stars in the movie.
All of the original cast members returned, including John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Andrea Martin and Joey Fatone. The sequel also brings in new characters played by Rita Wilson and John Stamos. Newcomer Elena Kampouris, is cast as the Vardalos’ daughter Paris.
In “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” we were introduced to the Portokalas’, who owned a family restaurant named Dancing Zorba’s, in Chicago’s Greek Town neighborhood.
Their daughter, Toula (played by Vardalos), was aesthetically challenged and reminded daily to “meet a nice Greek boy, get married and have Greek babies.”
At the age of 27, while living with her family and working at the restaurant, she decides to take charge of her life. Toula goes back to school, gets a new job and falls in love with a teacher named Ian, played by John Corbett, who is not Greek.
Her entire Greek family gets involved in their relationship but eventually comes to terms and accepts her new husband. The movie continues with hilarious events revolving around the wedding and ends with the newlyweds living right next door to her parents.
The sequel takes us back to the same neighborhood, the same restaurant and the same characters 14 years later.
Toula and Ian have sadly lost the spark in their marriage and are about to become empty nesters, as their only child Paris is about to graduate high school and is considering an out-of-state college.
Paris is desperately seeking a life without the annoyance of her overprotective Greek family, which, in the end, she learns she can never truly run away from.
In the meantime, Gus and Maria Portokalas, her grandparents, discover they were never formally married and struggle with issues of sacrifice and family duty.
Pay close attention to the college fair scene, and you may catch a quick glimpse of our very own Augustana College banner hidden behind actor Rob Riggle and a Northwestern banner.
While it’s true that sequels are notorious for falling short, and yes, I found that this movie did have parts that were over exaggerated and unnecessary, it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.
This movie is full of laughs for all ages. However, many of the funniest moments involve senior citizens trying to navigate the Internet, selfies and even Facetime.
It’s a funny, heartwarming film about the importance of family and finding one’s individuality in a large and loving family.
A minor sub plot involving Joey Fatone and his business partner was sweet, but barely touched upon.
It made me wonder if Vardalos purposely glossed over this relationship so that it could be the perfect set up for another future “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” movie.
Who knows, but I suggest if you’ve seen and loved the first movie, it is totally worth seeing the second.
