Available since today on Canal+, Father of the Bride is not yet another failed remake of Edward Streeter’s book. We explain why.
What is it about ?
Billy Herrera is a family man like the others. Except that he must soon marry his daughter. A little stressed at this idea, things get worse for Billy when in addition his wife is on the road to divorce. And other family members will quickly get involved in the organization of the wedding.
Who is it with?
A totally Latin casting was chosen for this remake. Andy García and Gloria Estefan, who need no introduction, play Billy and Ingrid Herrera, an immigrant couple who have succeeded in life but who are on the verge of divorce. They are the parents of two daughters, camped by Adria Arjona (6 Underground) and Isabela Merced (Dora), two sisters as different as they are endearing. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will also recognize the Diego Boneta cast as Adria’s fiancé.
Worth a look?
In the remake of remake category, we don’t ask for A Star is Born or Lady Chatterley’s Lover but for Father of The Bride, who some know better as Father of the Bride.
If the 1992 version with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton is the best known in France, the first adaptation of Edward Streeter’s novel saw the light of day in 1951 under the aegis of Vincente Minnelli, with Spencer Tracy in the role of the father and Elizabeth Taylor in the daughter’s. Two comedies judged likeable but not surprising by critics when they were released.
In 2020, Warner announces that it is working on a remake, this time centered on a Latinx family with a particularly attractive cast. And this is confirmed on screen: Andy Garcia is touching in the role of the Cuban father proud of his roots, when Gloria Estefan refuses to be stuck in the past. Adria Arjona and Isabela Merced bring a touch of softness and modernity that will speak to the youngest spectators.
Above all, Father of the Bride tells us about tradition and the evolution of mores with real authenticity, without ever being too heavy and without ever using scenes that are too embarrassing (and that’s the problem with current American comedies).
This version produced by Gaz Alazraki is even more serious and moving than the previous ones. It is one of those films whose end is already predicted even before the start – but in front of which we still have a good time. We only regret one thing: the poverty of the decor. If the action takes place in Miami, the actors shot in Atlanta and it shows with the use of green screens which we would have done well without.?
With an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Father of the Bride comes out on top. To see if Canal + subscribers will also fall under its spell.