Father of the Bride ** (1991, Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Kieran Culkin, B D Wong, Kimberly Williams, George Newbern) – Classic Movie Review 10,381

Director Charles Shyer’s 1991 comedy Father of the Bride stars Steve Martin, who scores strongly in an unexpected character part for him – Spencer Tracy’s old role in this tepid but popular Nineties remake of the delightful 1950 MGM movie Father of the Bride.

As George Banks, Martin is at his best in some extraneous slapstick physical comedy, excels in the verbal sparring with his wife Nina Banks (Diane Keaton), new in-laws and the wedding caterers, and even does well in its few more reflective moments.

But he is basically the film’s only attraction: Kimberly Williams (in her début) and George Newbern are vapid as the young couple Annie Banks and Bryan MacKenzie, Diane Keaton makes no impression in an underwritten role, and Martin Short gives an unwelcome anti-gay stereotype performance as the posh society caterer Franck Eggelhoffer.

Nancy Myers and Charles Shyer’s screenplay (based on the original screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett) and Charles Shyer’s direction frequently falter in this old-fashioned material put over without the old-fashioned Hollywood verve.

Phoebe Cates had to give up the part of the daughter when she became pregnant; writers Shyer and Meyers (Baby Boom, Irreconcilable Differences) are husband and wife.

Sequel: Father of the Bride Part II.

Also in the cast are Kieran Culkin, B D Wong, Peter Michael Goetz, Kate McGregor Stewart, Martha Gehman and Eugene Levy.

The Father of the Bride cast reunited for a virtual Netflix sequel in October 2020.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,381

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