Film Analysis: In ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ the Nuptials Are in Greece but the Blueprint Appears Outdated

“The ceremony is happening!” This predictable declaration arises early in the course of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” eliciting a gamut of reactions from the audience.

Initially, there’s a sense of surprise: Already? Was an engagement even announced? Following that, there’s a sentiment of relief: It’s about time. After all, as surely as the sun must rise over the shimmering Ionian Sea, a “big fat Greek wedding” film must contain a wedding.

This installment, poised to extend into a quadrilogy or even a quintology, prompts additional questions. Is it Nia Vardalos—franchise star, writer, and now director—who suggests that the quintessential solution to any problem is, indeed, a wedding? And does this suggest that matrimony is the only avenue to a satisfying conclusion?

Such a stance would seem incongruent with some attempts within the script to bring modern sensibilities to a blueprint that resonated exceptionally well in the beloved 2002 original. That original formula suffered a noticeable diminishment in the disappointing 2016 sequel, 14 years later. If “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” felt like a lackluster echo of the first film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” seems like an even fainter echo of that echo. To employ a franchise-appropriate culinary metaphor: it’s akin to baklava reheated for the third time.

Nevertheless, even reheated baklava can be worth consuming. This sequel may be rewarding for those who are keen to reconnect with familiar characters and are willing to forgive the film’s awkward pacing, stilted dialogue, and at times, implausible plot twists. On a positive note, Vardalos and her team excel at orchestrating matrimonial events.

For viewers needing context, the previous film left us with Paris, the adolescent daughter of Toula (portrayed by the ever-empathetic Vardalos) and her wholesomely attractive spouse Ian (John Corbett), as she moves into her NYU dorm room. Her decision to depart Chicago for higher education had provided much of the lukewarm suspense in the first sequel.

True to form, the film clings to the original elements that contributed to its overwhelming success. The Portokalos clan remains loving, noisy, and intrusive. We’ve regrettably lost the family patriarch, Gus (Michael Constantine, who passed away in 2021). Yet the family perseveres, with Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin) leading the tribe to their ancestral Greek village for a family reunion, the aim of which is to distribute Gus’s treasured journal to his childhood friends.

However, the narrative struggles with coherence. Subplots are raised and subsequently disregarded; new characters are introduced without adequate backstory or development, including Victory (Melina Kotselou), the village’s young, nonbinary mayor.

Returning characters also suffer from a lack of substantive development. For instance, Nick, Toula’s brother, inexplicably indulges in unsightly habits at the family dinner table. As for Ian, he remains a supportive spouse but lacks distinguishing characteristics. Their marriage seems stable, yet stagnant—a rarity for a romantic comedy franchise spanning three films.

Finally, the wedding ceremony, set in a picturesque Greek village, serves as the pinnacle of the film. The celebration incorporates both Greek and Syrian traditions, subtly acknowledging the current sociopolitical landscape in Greece. However, the film’s persistent focus on matrimony as the ultimate resolution raises questions about its contemporary relevance, and leaves one to wonder who will be the focus of the almost certain “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 4.”

In conclusion, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” released by Focus Films, has received a PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association for “suggestive material and some nudity.” It has a runtime of 91 minutes and merits a modest two out of four stars.

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More about My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Review

• My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Official Site
• IMDb: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
• Rotten Tomatoes: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
• Nia Vardalos IMDb Profile
• Focus Films Official Site
• Motion Picture Association Rating System
• Box Office Mojo: My Big Fat Greek Wedding Franchise Earnings
• The Original My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Review
• The First Sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) Review
• Interview with Nia Vardalos on the Making of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3