In this comedy about culture clash, two overbearing dads find the means to embrace their diversity in order to plan the wedding of their son and daughter. In less than two weeks. Adding to the absurdity is the delightful defeat of the STOCK American father who fumbles his way to the goal line. The lovable old... he just keeps swingin'.
That fighting over wedding plans reduces all males (ethnically, generationally, and sexually preferent notwithstanding) to lumps of nothing, is easily mitigated by the sympathetic roles Forrest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia bring to the hopeless dads. Bring it on should only refer to the hors d' oeurves platter.
This is a delightful excursion into the social consciousness of: "Don't bask in your tolerance until you meet who your daughter brings home". Throw in a tow-zone confrontation and a goat on male performance drugs, and we have the millennial version of the "Fathers of the Brides" – note on plurality.
And how can you really be mad at these sad-sacks. From Spencer Tracy through Steve Martin – throw in a little Fredric March (who should have married Tuesday Weld), update it with a strong shot of Bernie Mack (grhs), and feeling good at the end is the sole purpose of the film. LatAm meets AfAm, The only thing missing is NASCAR.
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presents: Our Family Wedding Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa Produced by: Scott Hyman, Edward Saxon, Steven J. Wolfe Starring: Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Carlos Mencia, Regina King, Lance Gross
