Father of the Bride 2022 Spoilers Ahead
No, we don’t always need more remakes, but sometimes, a remake is so well done that it’s easy to adore from the start. It’s especially a good thing if the remake advances the story with cultural celebration. Father of the Bride 2022 celebrates marriage, families, and second chances with immense heart and amusing banter.
Starring alongside legends Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan are Adria Arjona, Diego Boneta, Isabela Merced, Pedro Damián, and more as they seamlessly blend quips between Cuban and Mexican families. While I cannot speak on the showcase of cultural representation for Latin families, I can say that as an Armenian woman, it was incredibly fascinating to watch stories unfold while thoroughly understanding the dynamics that are all too familiar in our customs as well.
In every way where it counts, romance in this film not only appears to be rightfully done, but it’s palpable. In both Billy (Garcia) and Adan (Boneta), viewers have a clear understanding of the fact that these men value the women beside them and would do anything for them even when it appears that they’re unable to. And as much as the story seems familiar to romance readers, the film gives audiences two relationships to equally root for with moments that are achingly sweet and warm.
While specific plot lines differ from the original film, this remake brings to the surface essential conversations that audiences today could find more balance through. In what results in one of the most vulnerable moments in the films, the father of the bride and the groom share a heart-to-heart that leads to the kind of understanding I felt wasn’t as prominent in the original. Much of Billy’s sadness with the impending divorce and his daughter marrying as quickly is ultimately stemmed from his beliefs of failure, and the film takes enough time necessary to secure all the critical bolts of all relationships.
There’s also much to be said about the charming chemistry between both couples, with Garcia and Estefan bringing heart-tugging angst to our screens and Arjona and Boneta playing on the sweet tenderness of love’s early stages. A large part of the film relies on their stories to feel believable, and through everything, that never falters.
But ultimately, like its predecessor, the film is about the bride’s father learning to right his wrongs and grow for the better. Billy does this remarkably not only with Sofia and Adan’s future but Cora’s as well, learning to trust in her abilities as a designer while actively rooting for her to succeed. And, of course, learning to meet his wife’s needs by looking to his son-in-law as a shining example of the kind of husband he should’ve been.
Finally, while romance is a vital part of the story, its crux lies with two different families becoming one. And what ultimately works best is how the story interweaves cultures and financial status to look into differences in lifestyles, eventually leading to the kind of rushed wedding that’s more heartfelt than a planned one could’ve ever been. While the film certainly isn’t perfect, and I wish it were longer, it’s still a solid must-watch, and if a sequel were in the cards, I wouldn’t complain.
Further Recommended Films: Netflix’s Wedding Season Review: The Romantic Comedy We’ve Been Waiting For
Father of the Bride 2022 is now streaming on HBO Max.