Local Theater Showcases 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, the third instalment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, was released in theatres on September 8, 2023. The film was written and directed by Nia Vardalos, who also reprises her role as Toula. The story follows the Portokalos family as they travel to Greece for a family reunion after the death of the family patriarch, Gus Portokalos. The film received negative reviews from critics but has grossed $39 million worldwide.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 release date

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 was released in the United States on Friday, September 8, 2023, by Focus Features. It was then released on digital platforms on September 26, 2023, three weeks after its theatrical release.

The film is the third instalment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise and was written and directed by Nia Vardalos, who also stars in the film. The cast also includes John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 sees the Portokalos family travel to Greece for a family reunion following the death of the family patriarch, Gus Portokalos. The film follows Toula as she attempts to locate her father's childhood friends in Greece.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 cast

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is an American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos, who also reprises her role as Toula Portokalos. The film is the third instalment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise and was released in the United States on 8 September 2023.

The film stars John Corbett as Ian Miller, Toula's husband; Louis Mandylor as Nick Portokalos, Toula's brother; and Elena Kampouris as Paris Miller, Toula and Ian's daughter. Lainie Kazan plays Maria Portokalos, Toula's mother, who is battling dementia.

Other cast members include Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula, Gia Carides as Cousin Nikki, Joey Fatone as Cousin Angelo, Maria Vacratsis as Aunt Thiea, and Giannis Vasilottos as Christos.

The film also features a host of new characters, including Victory, the mayor of Gus' hometown, played by Melina Kotselou, and Alexandra, Gus' old flame, played by Anthi Andreopoulou.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 plot

The Portokalos family is dealing with multiple losses in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3". Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett) have lost their fathers, and Toula's mother, Maria (Lainie Kazan), is battling dementia. The family travels to Greece for a reunion in Toula's father's hometown, where they meet the village mayor, Victory (Melina Kotselou). Toula is on a mission to fulfil her father's wish of having his journal delivered to his childhood friends. The family also wants to retrace her father's steps and connect with his upbringing.

Upon their arrival, they realise that only a few locals remain in the village, and finding Gus's old friends won't be easy. They meet the locals and uncover a family secret: Gus had a son, Peter (Alexis Georgoulis), with the village matriarch, Alexandra (Anthi Andreopoulou). Peter has a son, Christos (Giannis Vasilottos), who is in a secret relationship with a Syrian refugee, Qamar (Stephanie Nur).

Christos and Qamar's relationship mirrors Toula and Ian's in the first film, facing the challenges of a cross-cultural romance. When the family discovers their secret, Christos and Qamar decide to get engaged, despite initial disapproval from Peter and Alexandra. Eventually, the families come together, and the film culminates in a joyous Greek-Syrian wedding celebration.

The film also explores the younger generation's journey, with Paris (Elena Kampouris), Toula and Ian's daughter, mirroring Toula's journey in the first film. Paris navigates her cultural identity and strives to forge her path. She develops a connection with Aristotle (Elias Kacavas), Aunt Voula's assistant, despite initially rebuffing his advances.

The movie tackles grief and the impact of loss on the family, while also conveying the importance of living with joy and gratitude in the present. It captures the heart and truth of the characters' lives, showcasing their love, cultural heritage, and the challenges of navigating a changing world.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 filming locations

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 was filmed entirely in Greece, with locations in Athens, Corfu, Santorini, Paros, Crete, and Hydra.

The film is set in both Chicago and Greece, but the cast and crew chose to film exclusively in Greece to capture the authenticity of the country. In fact, the Athens airport was transformed to resemble O'Hare airport in Chicago.

The majority of filming took place in the Plaka neighbourhood of Athens, a historic area known for its neoclassical architecture, narrow streets, and quaint village feel. The cast and crew also filmed in a wealthy suburb of Athens, where they transformed a house into the interior of the Portokalos family home.

The island of Corfu was the second primary filming location, with the cast and crew spending almost a month filming in the neoclassical village of Varipatades, which is located at the peak of a mountain. Many of the castles featured in the film are also located on the island of Corfu.

Other filming locations included Santorini, where they shot a night wedding scene, and some coastline shots of Paros, Crete, and Hydra.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 reviews

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, written by and starring Nia Vardalos, is the third instalment in the franchise and sees the return of the Portokalos family, who travel to Greece for a family reunion. The film was released on 8 September 2023 and is directed by Vardalos, who also plays Toula Portokalos-Miller.

The film has received mixed reviews. Critics have praised the beautiful scenery and sweet story, with one review stating that "it may not be as great as the original, but it's still good, light-hearted fun". The film's cinematography has also been commended, with one review noting that "there's more excitement in the images than the story".

However, some reviews have criticised the film for being formulaic and suffering from "diminishing returns". One review states that "the lazy writing, lazy performances, unnecessary plot, and forced jokes" made it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen". Another review describes the film as "a noisy sequel that cedes the punchlines and plotlines to the more cacophonous members of the Portokalos clan".

The film has been rated PG-13 for suggestive material and some nudity. It has a rating of 5.2 on IMDb and two out of four stars from AP News.

Despite the mixed reviews, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 will likely be a success, with one review noting that "writer/star Nia Vardalos [...] knows what the customer likes".

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