My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023) - Movie Review

Why was this made?

I mean, I know I basically asked the same question when the second film came out, but I am struggling even more with rationalising this one. At least with the first sequel, it was building off of what remains one of the most financially successful rom-coms ever. The second film didn’t come anywhere near that same profit margin, and with how devoid of entertainment value it turned out, raw finances are basically the only reason I could see why they would even bother continuing.

Far as I can tell, this is just star/writer and now director Nia Vardalos adding to the grand tradition of cinematic productions that exist primarily as an excuse for a paid vacation. So fine. If this film simply must exist, there’s not a whole lot I can do outside of hoping that, at the very least, it qualifies for ‘good for what it is’.

And yet I didn’t even get that much.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) - Movie Review

In theory, making a sequel to what is one of the highest-grossing rom-coms of all time makes sense; it’s like printing money at this point. Making said sequel some 16 years after the original, on the other hand? Not so much. Okay, the “X years later” formula has worked in the past to rather spectacular effect (just look at Toy Story 3) but that’s a one in a million shot. It also becomes a factor when it comes to how the public seems to have forgotten the original My Big Fat Greek Wedding. High apparent critical ratings but, judging the barometer of “people I know”, that isn’t reflected by audience reception. Me personally, if I think that the Seltzerberg parody of a film is not only funnier but smarter, something be screwy in the state of St. Louis. I don’t know if this is another Citizen Kane situation where my living in the fallout of the film makes me not able to appreciate how much it changed the scene, but somehow I really friggin’ doubt it.