Father of the Bride/Father of the Bride, Part II – 20th Anniversary Blu-ray/DVD Review

Funny stuff! There’s something about them that’s just so quaint and funny that you can’t help but enjoy them. The comic genius of both Steve Martin and Martin Short is on full display here, and their chemistry together is pure magic. These are great films for the whole family, for date night, or even if you’re just in the mood for a good laugh.

It’s hard to believe that the first Father of the Bride was released over 20 years ago. A remake of the Spencer Tracy classic from 1950, this is a remake that works on multiple levels and is a joy to watch. Steve Martin’s performance as a father who must come to terms with his daughter growing up and getting married is fantastic, and the supporting cast makes for a thoroughly enjoyable film.

Diane Keaton provides an excellent balance as wife, Nina, to Martin’s constantly off-kilter George Banks, while Kimberly Williams (the bride in the title) delivers an excellent first-time performance as daughter Annie. Watch for Kieren Culkin as younger son Matty, B.D. Wong as wedding planner assistant Howard Weinstein, and the brilliant Martin Short as the unintelligible Franck Eggelhoffer.

With plenty of comedic and heartwarming moments throughout, Father of the Bride is an excellent movie for all ages.

While Father of Bride, Part II has its moments, it’s not as strong as the first one. This sequel finds both Annie (Williams) and Nina (Keaton) pregnant at the same time. George must hold it together and make things go as smoothly as possible for his pair of mothers-to-be, while Franck pops up to add to the chaos.

There are lots of great comic bits with Steve Martin and Martin Short once again, but there are times when thing feel a bit contrived or forced. Still enjoyable, but not nearly as good as the first one.

My favorite bit involves George Banks taking one too many sleeping pills given to him by Franck. Comic gold.

The Blu-ray quality is, of course, great, and the special features are pretty good too. These include a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Father of the Bride, a segment where Steve Martin and Martin Short interview each other, and audio commentary with the Director/Writer of the film Charles Shyer.

If you want special features related to the sequel, pop in the DVD version of the film (both are also included on DVD) where you’ll find commentary by Steve Martin and Martin Short, as well as a making of featurette.

I would have liked to have seen current interviews with the cast and crew since this is the 20th anniversary edition of the film. It would have been nice to see what they all look like now and what they remember about making the film.

For some wholesome, funny, enjoyable entertainment, I highly recommend Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride, Part II.

Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride, Part II are available NOW in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack!

What’s your favorite moment from Father of the Bride or Father of the Bride, Part II? Leave a comment and let us know!

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