Big Fat Greek Wedding 3: Is The Third Time The Charm?

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has received mixed reviews. While some viewers enjoyed the film, describing it as charming, entertaining, and light-hearted fun, others were left disappointed, with some even calling it a disaster from beginning to end.

The film follows the Portokalos family as they travel to Greece for a family reunion and honour the wishes of Toula's late father. While the film has been praised for its beautiful scenery, it has also been criticised for its thin plot, poorly developed characters, and lack of genuine conflict.

Some viewers have also noted that the film feels disjointed and rushed, with scenes that don't seem to flow together coherently. The humour, which was a key part of the first film's success, has been described as forced and falling flat.

Overall, while My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 may appeal to fans of the franchise, it seems that it has failed to capture the charm and heart of the original film for many viewers.

The film's plot and pacing

The plot of the third instalment of My Big Fat Greek Wedding revolves around Toula, who intends to honour her late father's request to pass on his journal to his childhood friends. She travels to Greece with her husband, Ian, their college-aged daughter, Paris, Toula's brother, Nick, and two outspoken aunts, Frieda and Voula. They are hoping to reconnect with their roots and find her father's friends. However, upon arrival, they discover that the village is almost deserted, and the reunion is unlikely to happen. Toula then sets out to find her father's friends, while the rest of the family engages in various activities, such as trimming their nose and ear hair and befriending local monks.

The film's pacing has been described as frenetic and rushed, with scenes that felt disjointed and lacked a sense of broader themes or flow. Many conversations and experiences come to abrupt halts before they can go anywhere. For example, Ian's interactions with a monk consist of a couple of sentences and serve merely as a plot contrivance. Similarly, a montage of Toula falling off a horse replaces what could have been meaningful moments of connection between Toula and Ian as they navigate the empty-nester phase of their marriage.

The film attempts to create genuine conflict by including a storyline about a parent objecting to their Greek child's marriage to a non-Greek partner. However, these conflicts are resolved quickly and lack depth. The new characters introduced in the film, such as Victory, a distant cousin and self-appointed mayor of the village, are thinly sketched and rely on catchphrases rather than authentic dialogue.

In terms of pacing, the film feels like a collection of scenes placed side by side without a coherent narrative arc. The beautiful Greek scenery is a highlight, but the overall construction of the film is criticised as messy and incohesive.

Character development

The character development in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' has received mixed reviews. Some viewers have praised the film for its ability to portray relatable and resonant life situations, such as an ageing parent with memory loss, a child struggling in college, and learning about dark secrets from the past. The film has also been commended for its representation of family love and the portrayal of the charming and eccentric characters from the previous films.

However, other viewers have criticised the film for its lack of character depth and poorly developed new characters. Some reviews have described the characters as feeling like strangers, with no connection to each other or the audience. The dialogue has been described as forced and unnatural, and the plot as disjointed and rushed, with too many subplots and underdeveloped storylines.

Despite the overall mixed reception, some characters have been singled out for praise. Andrea Martin's portrayal of Aunt Voula has been described as fan-favourite and scene-stealing, with her comedic timing and delivery earning laughs from the audience. The addition of Alexandra, Gus's old flame, has also been well-received, with one review describing her as "the most fitting of the bunch, she holds this old-world charm that is a little bit of the replacement of Gus without completely taking his place".

Cinematography and editing

The cinematography and editing of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' have received mixed reviews.

One review describes the film as an absolute mess and a bunch of scenes that just happened to be placed side-by-side with no sense of broader themes or flow. The review also notes that people have conversations or experiences that screech to a halt before getting anywhere. Another review echos this, stating that the film felt like a frenetic mess and every scene seemed so rushed that the funny moments never had time to hit.

However, one review praises the cinematography, stating that it is modest, tasteful, and serves the story. The review also notes that the nighttime scenes are crisp and the bright blue of the Aegean and zigzag lines of the hills of Corfu are amplified.

Another review states that the film is entertaining and predictable, with wonderful cinematography and scenery.

The film was directed by Nia Vardalos and shot in Corfu and Athens, Greece.

The script and dialogue

One review states that the film "felt like a series of meaningless little events padding a rather weak premise". Another critic points out that the film "should have a better sense of these characters and their journey than anyone", but instead, it "feels less like a cohesive movie and more like a bunch of scenes that just happened to be placed side-by-side with no sense of broader themes or flow".

The dialogue has been described as "silly", "predictable", "poorly delivered", "over the top", "forced", "fake", "awkward", "clichéd", "repetitive", "uninspiring", "flat", "stale", "not well-written", "unfunny", "cringe-worthy", and downright... embarrassing.

However, some viewers enjoyed the dialogue and script, with one review stating that the film "kept true to the spirit of the other two films". Another review mentions that the film "has heart", and another commends the "endearing story".

The film's humour

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 received mixed reviews from audiences and critics alike. While some viewers found the film entertaining, heartwarming, and funny, others were left disappointed by the flat humour and poorly developed characters.

However, some viewers did find the film funny. One review mentions that the film had heart and was charming, with the audience smiling, laughing, and shedding tears—the "true meter of movie entertainment". Another review mentions that the film includes some gags [that] are humorous, and that the great Andrea Martin is still great.

Despite the mixed reviews, the film performed well at the box office, grossing $39 million worldwide.

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