#REVIEW: “THE WEDDING BANQUET”

By Mr. Will Wong

But really, how do you mess with perfection?  Writer and Director Andrew Ahn‘s remake of the 1993 classic by Ang Lee certainly has big shoes to fill and while nothing will ever top the original, he does a great job telling this iteration  through a fresh lens. True, we’ve made progess in leaps and bounds in the acceptance of being LGBTQ since the time the original film debuted, but generational pressures and stigmas still exist to this day.

At the center of this remake, we meet Min (Han Gi–chan) who is in line for a huge inheritance with his parents pass away. His grandmother (Youn Yuh–jung) in Korea makes it clear that the family needs a successor, so Min needs to get married and start a family.  Only problem is that he’s in a relationship with Chris (Bowen Yang), a man, and that’s not going to fly back home in Korea, coming from a high-profile family. Though not his end game, Min needs to get a Green Card which will let him stay in America and not have to go back home.

Min and Chris share a home with another couple, Lee (Lily Gladstone) and Angela (Kelly Marie Tran), who are having some difficulty conceiving a child through In Vitro Fertalization. Min then hatches up a plan to propose to Angela, offering to pay her and Lily, which would in turn help them fund treatments for their baby. Grandmother is America–bound to oversee this wedding, but realizes something is off as soon as she arrives. From here, everyone must navigate it being discovered that this marriage is a ruse, with many eyes on this prolific wedding.  An unexpected life event then occurs, threatening to destroy these two relationships and the wedding altogether, putting these bonds to the test.

This Ensemble Cast is stellar, and while the overall tone of the Film is heartfelt and veering a bit towards Drama, several lighthearted and comedic moments are sprinkled throughout to balance it all out with a bit of levity. Led by Star Wars‘ Tran, who finally gets a chance to show her chops here in role that has range, the Film’s tone being just right happens much in part due to her performance.  And wait till you see a subtle Star Wars reference late in the Film, you will gag!  The true standout of the Film though is none another than Academy Award winner Youn, who grounds the story with a performance that feels truly lived–in, commanding every scene she appears.  She takes her character through a real journey of growth, showing it is still possible to learn and open your heart even late in life.

It was a total missed opportunity to rename the Film “THE TEA CEREMONY” as this version leads up to a traditional Korean Wedding.  But indeed, it isn’t a celebration without a Chinese Lion Dance! THE WEDDING BANQUET is a read crowd-pleaser!

VVS Films release THE WEDDING BANQUET Friday, April 18, 2025.