The Big Wedding: Timing Is Everything

The Big Wedding is an American comedy film released in 2013. It is a remake of the 2006 Swiss-French film Mon frère se marie (My Brother Is Getting Married). The film stars an ensemble cast, including Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, and Amanda Seyfried. The plot centres around a divorced couple, Don and Ellie Griffin, who fake being married as their family unites for their adopted son Alejandro's wedding. With a star-studded cast and an intriguing premise, The Big Wedding promises a humorous and heartwarming story about family, love, and the complexities that arise when the two collide.

Plot of The Big Wedding (2013)

The Big Wedding is a 2013 American comedy film written and directed by Justin Zackham. It is a remake of the 2006 French film Mon frère se marie (My Brother Is Getting Married). The film stars Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon, and Robin Williams.

The plot centres around a long-divorced couple, Don and Ellie Griffin (played by De Niro and Keaton), who are forced to pretend to be married again when their adopted son, Alejandro (Barnes), announces his upcoming wedding. Alejandro reveals that he has not told his ultra-conservative biological mother, Madonna (Patricia Rae), that his adoptive parents are divorced, and she is travelling from Colombia to attend the wedding. Don and Ellie agree to put on a united front to avoid an awkward situation, but this proves challenging as Don is now in a relationship with Bebe (Sarandon), who was previously Ellie's best friend.

As the family unites for the wedding, various dramas and secrets unfold. Ellie's daughter, Lyla (Heigl), is struggling with her marriage and reveals that she is pregnant. Ellie's son, Jared (Grace), develops an attraction to Alejandro's sister, Nuria (Ana Ayora), who openly flirts with him and even gives him a hand job under the table during a family dinner. Despite this, she later rejects his advances, asking him to be more romantic instead.

On the wedding day, Don and Bebe's relationship is tested when he reveals that he slept with Ellie. Bebe forgives him but punches him in the face. It is also revealed that Ellie had cheated on Don with the father of the bride, Barry (David Rasche). Meanwhile, the bride and groom, Missy (Seyfried) and Alejandro, decide to get married on the family dock to escape the chaos of the wedding. The reception is eventful, with Jared and Nuria sleeping together and Don proposing to Bebe, who accepts. Lyla's estranged husband, Andrew (Kyle Bornheimer), arrives and reconciles with her after learning of her pregnancy. Alejandro's mother, Madonna, discovers the deception about her son's family but ultimately forgives him, revealing that she had also lied to protect him.

Cast of The Big Wedding

The Big Wedding is an American comedy film released in 2013. It is a remake of the 2006 Swiss-French film "Mon frère se marie" ("My Brother Is Getting Married"). The film features an ensemble cast of notable actors, including:

Robert De Niro

De Niro plays Donald Robert "Don" Griffin, a long-divorced husband who, along with his ex-wife, pretends to still be married to avoid an awkward situation with their adopted son's biological mother. De Niro is an Oscar-winning actor known for his versatile roles in films such as "Taxi Driver" and "The Godfather Part II".

Diane Keaton

Keaton portrays Eleanor "Ellie" Griffin, the ex-wife of Don Griffin. She arrives at her former home and interrupts Don as he is about to perform a lewd act on his current girlfriend, who is also Ellie's former best friend. Keaton is an Oscar-winning actress famous for her roles in films like "Annie Hall" and "The Godfather".

Katherine Heigl

Heigl takes on the role of Lyla Griffin, one of the three children of Don and Ellie Griffin. Lyla is separated and reveals that she is pregnant during the film. Heigl is known for her roles in films and television shows such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Knocked Up".

Topher Grace

Grace portrays Jared Griffin, the 29-year-old virgin obstetrician son of Don and Ellie. He is the recipient of his Colombian cousin's advances. Grace is an actor known for his roles in "That '70s Show" and "Spider-Man 3".

Ben Barnes

Barnes plays Alejandro Soto Griffin, the adopted son of Don and Ellie, whose wedding is the central event of the film. Barnes is an English actor known for his roles in "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and "Westworld".

Susan Sarandon

Sarandon takes on the role of Beatrice Martha "Bebe" McBride, Don's girlfriend of eight years, and Ellie's former best friend. She is upset when she finds out about Don and Ellie's deception and leaves the house. Sarandon is an Oscar-winning actress known for her roles in "Thelma & Louise" and "Dead Man Walking".

Amanda Seyfried

Seyfried portrays Melissa "Missy" O'Connor, Alejandro's fiancée. Seyfried is an Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in "Mamma Mia!" and "Les Misérables".

Christine Ebersole

Ebersole plays Muffin O'Connor, Missy's mother.

David Rasche

Rasche takes on the role of Barry O'Connor, Missy's father.

Ana Ayora

Ayora portrays Nuria Soto, Alejandro's biological sister who visits from Colombia. She is known for her boldness and forwardness.

Patricia Rae

Rae plays Madonna Soto, Alejandro's biological mother, who is a devout Catholic and does not believe in divorce.

Robin Williams

Williams takes on the role of Father Bill Moinighan, the priest who is set to marry Missy and Alejandro. Williams was an Oscar-winning actor and comedian known for his roles in "Good Will Hunting" and "Dead Poets Society".

Plot of Big Time Wedding (2011)

"Big Time Wedding" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the TV series "Big Time Rush", and the thirty-sixth episode of the series overall. The episode aired on 20 August 2011.

The episode features a visit from the king and princess of Kerplankistan, the country where the band got their first number-one record. The king intends to have his daughter marry one of the band members. James does not want to marry the princess but asks her if she would have chosen him and gives her a white rose—unaware that this counts as a formal proposal of marriage in Kerplankistan. The band realise they are about to lose James, so they enlist the help of the king's 'dirt boy', who is the princess's true love, to try to stop the wedding. They succeed in getting the princess married to the dirt boy, and the king accepts his daughter's choice and blesses the marriage.

However, the king reveals that he has four other daughters and wants the band members to marry them, causing the boys to run away screaming.

In a subplot, Katie discovers that Buddha Bob is an immigrant from Canada who is about to be deported. She convinces her mother to pretend that Buddha Bob is her husband so that he can stay in the US. In the process, it is revealed that Mrs Knight and Buddha Bob are actually already married, and he becomes a US citizen.

The Big Wedding remake

The Big Wedding is a 2013 American comedy film written and directed by Justin Zackham. The film stars an ensemble cast, including Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon, and Robin Williams. It is a remake of the 2006 Swiss-French film "Mon frère se marie" (My Brother Is Getting Married).

Plot Outline:

The story begins with Don and Ellie Griffin, a divorced New England couple who have three children: Lyla, Jared, and their adopted son, Alejandro, who is originally from Colombia. As the family unites for Alejandro's wedding, Ellie arrives at Don's home and walks in on him and his girlfriend, Bebe, in an embarrassing situation. Despite the awkward start, they make small talk, and Ellie is shown to her room.

Alejandro and his fiancée, Missy, meet with the priest, Father Moinighan, who will be marrying them. However, there is a concern as Alejandro's biological mother, Madonna, is expected to attend the wedding, and she is a devout Catholic who does not approve of divorce. To please his mother, Alejandro asks Don and Ellie to pretend to be married for the wedding. This request upsets Bebe, and she leaves the house.

Lyla, who is separated, visits the hospital and meets her brother Jared, an obstetrician. It is revealed that Jared is a virgin and is waiting for the right person. Back at the house, the family is introduced to Madonna and Alejandro's biological sister, Nuria. Nuria's bold personality is evident as she strips naked to skinny-dip in the family's lake, surprising everyone.

Creative Changes:

At the dinner with Missy and her parents, Muffin and Barry, Bebe's presence as their waitress surprises everyone. However, this time, let's add a twist: an unexpected power outage occurs, plunging the venue into darkness. As the family scrambles to find a solution, secrets are revealed in the chaos. Nuria, taking advantage of the situation, makes a daring escape, creating further drama.

Back to the Original Story:

The story continues with Jared and Nuria's relationship, where she asks him to be romantic instead of rushing into physical intimacy. Don and Ellie, caught up in the pretend marriage, end up sleeping together. Ellie and Madonna go for a walk and have a heart-to-heart conversation, despite the language barrier. Meanwhile, Lyla reveals to Don that she is pregnant.

On the wedding day, chaos ensues as Don tells Bebe about his night with Ellie, and Bebe punches him in the face. Missy's parents, Muffin and Barry, have their own secrets, and it is revealed that Muffin is bisexual, showing interest in both Bebe and Ellie. Missy and Alejandro decide to get married on the family dock, away from the chaos.

Creative Changes:

As the family runs after the couple, they encounter a hilarious obstacle, with some of them falling into a lake filled with colourful inflatable floats, creating a memorable and fun moment. The wedding reception continues with more surprises, as Jared and Nuria have an unexpected change of heart, deciding to part ways.

Back to the Original Story:

Don proposes to Bebe, and they get married on the spot. Lyla's estranged husband, Andrew, arrives at the wedding and reconciles with her when he learns of her pregnancy. Alejandro's mother, Madonna, realizes the family's lies but ultimately forgives them, understanding their intentions.

The story concludes with a heartwarming reveal as Don attaches a plaque with his new granddaughter, Lyla's baby girl, named Jane, to their family tree.

Cast:

• Robert De Niro as Donald Robert "Don" Griffin
• Diane Keaton as Eleanor "Ellie" Griffin
• Katherine Heigl as Lyla Griffin
• Topher Grace as Jared Griffin
• Ben Barnes as Alejandro Soto Griffin
• Susan Sarandon as Beatrice Martha "Bebe" McBride
• Amanda Seyfried as Melissa "Missy" O'Connor
• Christine Ebersole as Muffin O'Connor
• David Rasche as Barry O'Connor
• Ana Ayora as Nuria Soto
• Patricia Rae as Madonna Soto

Reception of The Big Wedding

The reception of "The Big Wedding" is a crucial part of the film and the day's festivities. Here is a detailed breakdown of the reception events:

The reception for the wedding in the film "The Big Wedding" takes place after a chaotic ceremony, with the family running after the newlyweds, Missy and Alejandro, who decided to escape the chaos and get married on the family dock. The reception is a time for celebration and marks the beginning of the festivities for the newly married couple.

The reception timeline for a typical wedding can be as follows:

• 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.: Cocktail hour for guests while the newlyweds take some post-ceremony photos. This break allows the couple to re-energize before joining the cocktail hour or enjoying appetizers and drinks privately.
• 7:15 p.m.: Guests are invited to dinner.
• 7:30 p.m.: Grand entrance and first dance of the newlyweds. This is a great transition to keep the energy and fun going.
• 7:35 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.: Welcome toasts, traditionally offered by the parents or family members of the couple.
• 7:45 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: Dinner is served, providing a break for guests to relax and enjoy their meal.
• 8:30 p.m. - 8:40 p.m.: Wedding party toasts by the best man and maid of honor.
• 8:40 p.m. - 8:50 p.m.: Parent dances, followed by an open dance floor for all guests.
• 9:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.: Cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss, if these traditions are being observed. This is also an opportunity for the newlyweds to address their guests and express their gratitude.
• 9:45 p.m. onwards: Open dance floor until the end of the reception.

In the film "The Big Wedding," the reception is where much of the movie's drama and comedy unfold. The reception is when Don tells Bebe that he had sex with his ex-wife, Ellie, leading to a proposal and their spontaneous wedding. It is also when Lyla's estranged husband, Andrew, arrives at the wedding, and they reconcile upon learning of her pregnancy. Additionally, Alejandro's mother, Madonna, realizes she has been lied to about his family, but ultimately forgives him, revealing that her past was not as pure as he thought.

The reception of "The Big Wedding" is a pivotal moment in the film, where secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and new beginnings are celebrated, all while the guests enjoy dinner, toasts, and dancing.

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