Comedy/Romance
Rated – PG
Duration –1 hours 34 mins
Release – March 2016
Director –Kirk Jones
Cast –Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Elena Kampouris
Mr Knight
I had always known this movie was going to be on the cards for myself and Mrs Knight when looking at what was in cinemas. Why you ask? Mrs Knight has Greek heritage on her mother’s side and she wasn’t going to miss this one. Although there is nothing more fun than looking for comparisons and similarities between the on screen and off screen families.
There are simple ways for someone to enjoy this sequel. The first is basic. Watch the first movie. Mrs Knight and I loaded it up on Netflix two weeks before going into the cinema. If you enjoyed the first for what it was, which was a light hearted romance littered with quirky Greek stereotypes, then this sequel will hit the spot. If you didn’t like the first film, this isn’t for you.
The second. Walk into the cinema light hearted ready to not take things too seriously and you will enjoy yourself and have some good laughs. If you had fun with the original cast you will be pleased to find them all back for a second time and ready to deliver the same laughs.
Nia Vardalos, writer of the sequel and main character Toula, is finding herself back in a life draining routine at her families’ restaurant and an obsession with being a part of her teenage daughter Paris’ (Elena Kampouris) life. With these factors dominating her, she finds it is hurting both her marriage with Ian (John Corbett) and smothering Paris to the point where her daughters’ college plans are to be as far away from home as possible.
Despite the corniness in moments and some over the top Greekisms, I still found myself laughing out loud. Whether that is because I can relate with my new family or not, I can’t say. I loved how Mana-Yiayia dressed in all black and silent, kept popping up for a little visual jokes here and there.
I appreciated how the movie wasn’t just about Toula, or her daughter, or the husband Ian, but many of the characters and it rolled well between them making the story and movie flow. Your mind won’t be blown away by this movie but it followed the same recipe as its predecessor without trying to be the same thing and that’s what gave it its edge.
Like I said, see the first. If you like it, you will definitely like this one. Treat yourself.
Mrs Knight
My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a favourite in our household back in 2002, so when I saw there was a sequel coming out I didn’t hesitate to see it. Set 14 years later, the family are still as crazy as they were in the original.
Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett) now have a teenage daughter who is going through all the familiar experiences of dealing with her big Greek family and rebelling against them. Toula and Ian are so wrapped up in her life that they have forgotten to have their own. While they deal with this throughout the film the rest of the family begin planning a wedding even bigger than the wedding from the first film for Toula’s parents, who discover their original nuptials weren’t official.
The storyline isn’t overly interesting and it’s very predictable, but the characters are very entertaining. Her Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin) is particularly hilarious and their Mana-Yiayia. The humour is very much in line with the first one with familiar jokes as well as many new ones based around stereotypical Greeks and their family. Speaking on behalf of someone with a Greek family there were a lot of familiarities from my own life, which made it all the more funny. However, I don’t think you have to be Greek to enjoy this film as all families have their quirks and I’m sure this would be enjoyable to watch no matter what.
As we walked out of the cinema, I heard someone complain that they “tried too hard” in this one. However, I disagree. They did over the top jokes in the first one too, so it was suited and in line with the first. At the end of the day they’re the same characters so they are going to act the same way from the first movie and they did. If you didn’t find the first one funny, you’re not going to enjoy this one either. It’s that simple.
Like most comedies it’s best to just go in open minded, sit back and relax and hopefully the laughter will come. It definitely did for me and I don’t often LOL during movies but there were a couple of times where I properly cracked up. Mr Knight was cracking up next to me as well. It’s not a masterpiece of a movie, or particularly memorable but if it’s on TV, I’ll re-watch it and have a laugh. I also recommend it if you enjoyed the first one. If you haven’t seen the first one, I suggest you do before going to see this sequel.
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