Critics Have Seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, And They Did Not Hold Back Their Opinions About Nia Vardalos’ Threequel
Nia Vardalos, the screenwriter and star of the 2002 hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding, catapulted to fame. The surprise rom-com success raked in $241 million domestically and an additional $127 million overseas, establishing itself as the highest-grossing rom-com of all time. Vardalos even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Now, after twenty-one years, a sequel, and a short-lived sitcom, the Portokalos family is making a comeback, this time heading to Greece. Critics had an early glimpse of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 before its September 8 release, and their opinions were far from unanimous.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 will bring back most of the original cast from the first two films, except for Michael Constantine, who passed away in 2021. Nia Vardalos revealed that the late actor had given his blessing for the franchise to continue without him, and she crafted the script accordingly. It appears that Toula’s father will be fondly remembered as the boisterous family embarks on a grand reunion in Greece. Now, let’s dive into what the critics had to say.
Samantha Bergeson of IndieWire gives the new romantic comedy a D+, criticizing its inability to strike the right tone. Jokes often fall flat, and even serious subjects like Alzheimer’s and xenophobia are inexplicably turned into comedic elements. Bergeson comments on Nia Vardalos taking on both writing and directing roles, following her 2009 directorial effort, “I Hate Valentine’s Day,” and suggests that her inexperience behind the camera is evident.
Courtney Howard of Variety echoes Bergeson’s sentiments, asserting that not even an abundance of Windex can salvage this franchise. Howard, too, believes that Vardalos’ limited directorial experience is apparent.
Jocelyn Noveck of the AP rates the sequel with 2 out of 4 stars and notes that Nia Vardalos’ formula feels outdated. However, she acknowledges that die-hard fans of the first two movies might be willing to overlook the script’s clunky elements.
Critics Have Seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, And They Did Not Hold Back Their Opinions About Nia Vardalos’ Threequel
Jen Chaney of Vulture doesn’t mince words, describing the 91-minute film as feeling longer than a screening of Oppenheimer. She criticizes the movie’s tendency to overuse mildly amusing jokes to the point of annoyance.
On a more positive note, Justin Lowe of AV Club suggests that, despite questioning the need for another installment in this franchise, there’s a mostly affirmative answer. Lowe awards the movie a B-.
Critics Have Seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, And They Did Not Hold Back Their Opinions About Nia Vardalos’ Threequel
However, the overall consensus among critics leans towards the negative, with the film currently holding a 26 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews from 46 critics. Despite the critical reception, fans of the first two movies are encouraged to form their own opinions as My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 was released on September 8. For those interested in upcoming releases, be sure to check out the 2023 new movie schedule.