Big Screen, Bigger Laughs: Enjoying The Third Installment Of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a 2023 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. It is the third instalment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise. The film was released in the United States on September 8, 2023, by Focus Features. It stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin. The plot sees the family travel to Greece for a family reunion following the death of Toula's father.

Where to watch

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 was released in theatres on September 8, 2023, and is also available to watch on streaming platforms. The film is currently streaming on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. It can also be rented on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, FlixFling, and Spectrum On Demand. It is also available to download on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, and Microsoft Store.

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 31, 2023, and can be purchased on Amazon.

Plot summary

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a 2023 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. It is the third installment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise. The film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin.

The film follows the Portokalos family as they grapple with the death of their patriarch, Gus Portokalos, and Ian's father Rodney, which occurred a year ago. The family is invited by Victory, a distant relative and the mayor of Gus' hometown Vrisi, to attend a supposed reunion in Greece. On the trip, Aunt Voula introduces her assistant Aristotle, who is also Paris' college-mate, and Toula reveals she is bringing Gus' journal to give to his three childhood friends in Greece.

Upon arriving in Athens, the family goes sightseeing and finds Gus' childhood home in the nearly abandoned Vrisi. There, they meet Alexandra, Gus's old flame, and Victory confesses that there is no reunion, hoping the Portokalos family would help revive the village. The next day, the family goes to a nearby town, where Toula searches for Gus's friends without success and gets drunk on ouzo. Nick searches for the village's oldest tree, and Ian befriends a monk, who has information about everyone's activities in the village.

At dinner, Toula and Ian meet Peter, Alexandra's son by Gus, as well as his son Christos, and Alexandra's assistant Qamar. Christos and Qamar take Aristotle and Paris to a club, where they reveal they are secretly betrothed. The next day, Toula informs her family about Peter but struggles to locate Gus' friends. However, the monk gives Ian a list of those who left the village, and Toula shares this with Nikki and Angelo, who head to Syros and return with them.

Toula also discovers that Nick brought Gus's ashes to Greece, intending to scatter them by the oldest tree in Vrisi, per his father's wishes. The family learns about Christos and Qamar's engagement, as well as Paris being on academic probation. Peter and Alexandra express disapproval, but the younger generation rejects external interference, opting to address their issues independently.

Eventually, Peter and Alexandra come to terms with Christos and Qamar's relationship. Victory recognizes the potential of a wedding to revitalize the village and initiates plans. In a joyous celebration, Qamar's family joins them for her wedding to Christos. Paris opens up about her split with Aristotle, citing struggles with independence, and they agree to take things slow. Nikki and Angelo arrive with Gus' friends, and Toula presents them with his journal.

Later, Toula, Nick, and Peter privately scatter Gus' ashes around the tree, and Victory's mayorship is praised. Toula and Nick decide to bring Peter with them to America as part of the family.

Cast

The third instalment of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise sees the return of several cast members from the previous films. Nia Vardalos reprises her role as the protagonist Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos and also serves as the film's writer and director. John Corbett returns as Toula's husband, Ian Miller, and Elena Kampouris returns as their daughter, Paris Miller. Lainie Kazan portrays Toula's mother, Maria Portokalos, and Andrea Martin plays her aunt, Theia Voula. Louis Mandylor portrays Toula's brother, Nick Portokalos, and Gia Carides plays her cousin, Nikki. Joey Fatone, a former member of the boy band NSYNC, joins the cast once again as Cousin Angelo, the brother of Cousin Nikki.

In addition to the returning cast members, there are several new additions to the ensemble. Maria Vacratsis portrays Theia Freida, a new character in the franchise. Elias Kacavas plays Aristotle, another fresh face for the Portokalos family reunion. Melina Kotselou makes her feature film debut as Victory, the mayor of Gus' hometown. Gerry Mendicino reprises his role as Uncle Taki, Theia Voula's husband and the father of Nikki and Angelo. Stavroula Logothetis portrays Toula's sister, Athena Portokalos, and Peter Tharos returns as Yianni. Stephanie Nur joins the cast as Qamar, a new character who becomes central to the plot.

Reception

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 was released on September 8, 2023, in the United States by Focus Features. The film is available to watch on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and can be rented or bought on these platforms. It was also released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 31, 2023.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has received generally negative reviews from critics, with a rating of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 35/100. The film has been described as "amiable and sunny if often unamusing", with critics noting that it "repeats much of what audiences loved the first time around but suffers from diminishing returns".

However, despite the negative reviews, the film has grossed $39 million worldwide. Audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are more positive, with an average grade of "B" and an overall positive score of 73%. While some viewers have enjoyed the film, describing it as "light-hearted fun" with "beautiful scenery", others have been more critical, with one review stating that the film was a "complete waste of time".

The film is dedicated to the memory of Michael Constantine, who passed away in 2021 and did not feature in this third instalment.

Comparison to previous films

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has been compared to its predecessors in several ways. In terms of plot, the film has been described as formulaic, following a similar structure to the previous films in the franchise. This includes the introduction of multiple "conflicts" that are easily resolved without significant sacrifices or effort from the characters. The third instalment also features beautiful scenery, with some viewers praising the cinematography for its tastefulness and crispness.

However, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has received generally negative reviews from critics, with some viewers expressing disappointment. The film has been criticised for its writing, acting, and lack of connection between the characters. Some viewers felt that the film lacked the heart of the original and that the humour felt forced and scripted. Additionally, some viewers found the plot thin and the characters less relatable or engaging than in the previous films.

Despite the negative reviews, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has been described as light-hearted fun and a cute but thinly drawn addition to the franchise. It offers a similar blend of comedy and romance as its predecessors, with a focus on family, love, and cultural traditions. The film also explores themes of grief and family dynamics, with the Portokalos family grappling with the loss of their patriarch, Gus Portokalos.

Overall, while My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 may not have lived up to the high standards set by its predecessors, it still offers a familiar and comforting formula for fans of the franchise, with beautiful visuals and some genuine laughs.

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