HBO Max Remakes ‘Father of the Bride’ with a New Spin, But There Seems to Be Something Missing

It's clear that the producers of Father of the Bride pulled out the big guns when it came to casting, and we get solid performances from all these major stars. Better yet, we also get a perspective that is still quite rare in Hollywood.

At the beginning of the film, we hear the story of how Billy came to America with almost nothing to his name, where he built a house for his family all on his own, eventually leading to a career as an architect and a successful business mogul. It becomes a joke throughout the movie that Billy recounts this story often and always changes small details, like saying he came to the states on a plane, but later switching it up to a boat or even a life raft. However, while this background is turned into a joke, it's a small way in which this movie highlights the immigrant story in America and shows a different side of success, one that's not tied to generational wealth or inherent privilege. It feels especially powerful in a remake of a film that has been typically dominated by white casts.

Additionally, the movie is rich with references to Cuban-American culture in Miami, and this intersects with Mexican culture when Adan's family joins the group too. The music, food and use of Spanish throughout the film feels genuine, and it doesn't feel like Father of the Bride is trying to cater or explain these cultural aspects to an Anglo-American audience.

Yet, while this new Father of the Bride breaks ground with its representation, it ultimately falls short in other ways. For starters, although the movie is technically defined as a romantic-comedy, the “comedy” side is often neglected. The movie relies on tension and frustration to drive the narrative forward and there aren't enough laughs to keep the energy light.

Father of the Bride is also overlong (with around a two-hour runtime), but oddly enough, the viewer feels like they don't get to know these characters well. Although Sofia is the titular “bride,” we learn little about who she is as a person (besides the fact that she's hardworking and caring), so it's hard to understand the dynamic between her and her father when we're only seeing her dad's side. Meanwhile, Adan is given little room in the film, and we're supposed to believe that the relationship between him and Billy grows stronger after a single conversation the two have during Adan's bachelor party.

Rather than remaking Father of the Bride yet again, this could've been a much more meaningful film if the writers had decided to make an original script that kept the focus on Latino traditions, but gave a deeper background to the characters, instead of just making them vehicles to retell a well-known narrative.

Father of the Bride is an undeniably important remake that highlights Cuban-American life and is led by an all-star cast. However, it too often relies on tension rather than laughs, leaving something to be desired for viewers hoping for a lighthearted watch. Meanwhile, the viewer can't help but feel like this story has run its course, and the underrepresented cultural elements could've been better served with an entirely different plot.

Get more movie and TV show reviews by subscribing here.

For a full breakdown of PureWow's entertainment rating system, click here.

Check out our weekly podcast, Stream On, featuring reviews and debates about the best shows, movies and more!