(L to R) Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Han Gi-Chan and Bowen Yang in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Credit: Bleecker Street / ShivHans Pictures.
‘The Wedding Banquet’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on April 18th, ‘The Wedding Banquet’ presents a new take on the story brought to screens by Ang Lee’s 1993 romantic comedy of culture and confusion.
This brand new version, which moves the story forward to the present day and features two couples instead of one, is directed by ‘Fire Island’s Andrew Ahn.
Related Article: ‘Fire Island’ Exclusive Interviews
Is ‘The Wedding Banquet’ Worth Celebrating?
Joan Chen in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Credit: Bleecker Street / ShivHans Pictures.
It’s exceedingly rare for the writer of the original movie to be involved with a re-imagining, but here we have James Schamus, who worked on the Lee movie, back collaborating this time with director Andrew Ahn.
And the results speak for themselves –– the pair has come up with a sensitive, funny and warm new take on the story, expanding the world of the situation and exploring it through the lens of today’s LGBTQ+ attitudes and society.
Script and Direction
‘The Wedding Banquet’ writer and director Andrew Ahn. Photo: Janice Chung.
The script keeps the characters feeling grounded, even as the situation becomes more comical and, indeed, emotional and heartfelt.
Carefully charting the evolving dynamics of the various friendships –– not to mention their parents and other characters, this new ‘Wedding Banquet’ is a feast of entertaining moments, real drama and laugh-out loud scenes (including the titular ritual, which devolves into comic chaos).
Also, Ahn and Shamus smartly undercut expectations ––– when you think a character, particularly the older, more traditional types, are going to react one way, the script finds surprising, joyful and funny ways to go in a different direction.
Ahn infuses the movie with visual heart as well as the script’s existing power, guiding his cast to fully bring the characters to life.
Working with his team, he also brings the world to the screen with charm and effectiveness, the house that Angela, Lee, Min and Chris share feeling lived in and authentic. If it doesn’t always feel authentically set in Seattle (the movie was shot in Vancouver), that’s a minor issue.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Credit: Bleecker Street / ShivHans Pictures.
Perhaps the biggest advantage that ‘The Wedding Banquet’ has is a leading ensemble with the chance to offer more than they’re often given to do on screen.
Kelly Marie Tran’s role as Angela might be closer to some other characters she’s played, but it also offers the chance to play someone more complicated –– far from perfect but doing her best to navigate the world.
Lily Gladstone has been playing dramatic roles primarily for a while, and though Lee certainly has those shades, it’s also a welcome opportunity for her to return to her comedic routes. And she grabs it with both hands, giving the role an accomplished, relatable side.
Bowen Yang is more normally found in smaller comic relief roles, and while Chris has some very funny moments, it likewise lets him expand out into all sides of the character, from his commitment phobia to his struggles over his relationship when it starts to evolve before his eyes.
(L to R) Bowen Yang and Han Gi-Chan in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Credit: Bleecker Street / ShivHans Pictures.
Han Gi-Chan has mostly worked in Korea, but he’s great as the conflicted Min, trying to balance family expectation with what is in his heart.
Around the main leads there are some equally excellent supporting turns, not the least of which are from Joan Chen and ‘Minari’ Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung.
Chen, playing Angela’s exuberant, supportive mother May, gets to have more fun than she has in some other roles and that spills out into the rest of the movie. She’s also a real mother, struggling with past choices and coming across as a rounded character despite more limited screentime.
Likewise Youn’s character Ja-Young (Min’s imposing grandmother), who initially comes across stoic and locked into her worldview, is revealed to be far more layered than that first impression.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Han Gi-Chan, Youn Yuh-Jung and Kelly Marie Tran in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Credit: Bleecker Street / ShivHans Pictures.
‘The Wedding Banquet’ represents a truly successful update of a much-loved movie that both infuses new life into the story and honors the original.
It’s the latest impressive piece of work from director Andrew Ahn and deserves to find a place in the heart of audiences beyond LGBTQ+ and Asian cinemagoers who will see themselves represented well here.
Showtimes & Tickets
Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela in exchange for… Read the Plot
What’s the plot of ‘The Wedding Banquet’?
Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris (Bowen Yang) and running out of time, Min (Han Gi-chan) makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) in exchange for her partner Lee’s (Lily Gladstone) expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet.
Who stars in ‘The Wedding Banquet’?
- Bowen Yang as Chris
- Lily Gladstone as Lee
- Kelly Marie Tran as Angela
- Han Gi-chan as Min
- Joan Chen as May Chen
- Youn Yuh-jung as Ja-Young
Bowen Yang stars in ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews.