The Wedding Banquet Parent Guide

Lee (Lily Gladstone) is devastated when her second attempt at in vitro fertilization ends in a miscarriage. As her partner, Angela (Kelly Marie Tran), attempts to comfort her, they both know Lee’s biological clock is winding down. By the time they save up the money for another round of IVF, it could be too late. Then, their friend Min offers an unorthodox solution…

The scion of a wealthy Korean family, Min (Han Gi-Chan) has been living in the US, developing his skills as a fabric artist. But his visa is close to expiring and his grandparents want him to return to Korea and assume his place as an executive in the family business. Min’s commitment-phobic partner, Chris (Bowen Yang), isn’t prepared to wed so Min suggests a deal: if Angela marries him, he’ll pay for Lee’s next round of IVF.

Not surprisingly, given the plot, The Wedding Banquet is a zany film, filled with misunderstandings, cultural miscues, and laugh-out loud moments. As Min and Angela prepare for a marriage neither of them wants, they both confront their troubled family relationships: Angela with her self-absorbed, performatively supportive mother (May Chen), and Min with his traditional grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung). Lee is sideswiped by an unexpected betrayal, and Chris confronts the deep-seated feelings of unworthiness that have sabotaged his relationship and career. All of these plotlines are filled with deep feeling and are lightened up with comedy that is consistently funny but never cruel.

The four principal actors all bring authenticity to their roles, but for me the real star of the show is Youn Yuh-jung, who plays Min’s grandmother Ja-Young. When she makes an unexpected visit to Seattle to witness the nuptials, Ja-Young is startled by the complexities of the situation. Her character deals with her own competing emotions – concern for the family’s reputation, a need to placate her homophobic husband, responsibility for the family business, love for her grandson, grief for lost opportunities. To this emotional mix, she brings sincerity, curiosity, open-mindedness, and generosity. It’s a moving portrayal.

Whether or not you enjoy this film depends largely on your beliefs around LGBTQ issues. If they are traditional, you’re unlikely to enjoy it. Allies, on the other hand, will appreciate this sensitive look at challenges facing the LGBTQ characters. Unfortunately, the film contains enough negative content to land it in the Restricted category, when it could easily have been edited down to a PG-13 level instead. There are several scenes where characters drink alcohol, even becoming intoxicated (with serious consequences). Brief nudity and implied sex are factors in the rating, as are the nearly four dozen profanities, including 13 sexual expletives. This is definitely not family-friendly entertainment.

The negative content is frustrating because The Wedding Banquet nails the rom-com genre, with a particularly strong emphasis on the comedy. This is a genuinely funny film, which can’t be said about all rom-coms. It’s also a story of love, family, forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope and has the power to bring a smile to your face