GC Movie Review - Our Family Wedding

Starring: Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Taye Diggs, Regina King, Fred Armisen, Lance Gross, Carlos Mencia
Director: Rick Famuyiwa
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Theatrical Release: Mar 12, 2010 Wide

Synopsis: "Our marriage, their wedding." It's lesson number one for any newly engaged couple, and Lucia (America Ferrera) and Marcus (Lance Gross) are no exception. In Fox Searchlight Pictures' OUR FAMILY WEDDING, they learn the hard way that the path to saying "I do" can be rife with familial strife. When they return from college and too suddenly announce their marriage plans, they soon discover that their fathers - two highly competitive over-the-top egos - can wreak a major amount of havoc on their special day.

It didn’t take much for me to get excited about this film. I simply love America Ferrera (Real Women Have Curves, Ugly Betty, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). In a short period of time, she’s proven herself to be a truly remarkable, honest and vulnerable actress. As well, Lance Gross (Tyler Perry’s Meet the Brown’s film and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne) has too, proven himself as a credible actor. Aligning these two was a brilliant move by director Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar and Talk to Me).

I did however, want to understand, based on the title of the new film, “Our Family Wedding”, releasing Friday, March 12, 2010, which direction we were being taken in and if we were going to enjoy the ride or want to get off and get our money back – per se.

Already the director of three of my favorite films (The Wood, Brown Sugar and Talk to Me) Famuyiwa has continued to please with this film. He was very specific to not make this a film just about the groom and bride to be, but he wanted to reflect on the reality that when you get married, you are literally marrying into your spouses ENTIRE family, whether you like it or them or not. The film was believable.

Marcus (Lance Gross) and Lucia (America Ferrera), both from families that are very excited by the promise they will bring to the family name, Marcus as a doctor and Lucia as a lawyer are caught off guard when plans suddenly change. Hesitant but committed to bringing their families together to share in the good news of their upcoming wedding, Marcus doing volunteer work in Laos and Lucia dropping out of law school to volunteer as a school teacher and then move to Laos with her husband; neither were prepared for what was about to ensue. This news was supposed to take the amount of time it takes to have a family to have dinner but it doesn’t.

Marcus’ dad Brad Boyd (Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland, Phone Booth, Panic Room) is a divorced radio DJ who’s nights are spent at night clubs picking up much younger women, needing some sort of freakish control over everything in his life, collecting fine art, driving his vintage car and his days as a part-time dad.

Lucia’s dad Miquel (Carlos Mencia – The Heartbreak Kid, Outta Time) has made a beautiful life for his family as the owner of a car restoration shop. He lives a comfortable Catholic life with his wife Sonia (Diana Maria Riva – What Women Want, Employee of the Month, The Third Wheel) who needs more out of life, daughter Isabella aka “Izzie” (Anjelah Johnson - You Tube, MADtv, Alvin and the Chipmunks – The Sqeakquel) and mother Cecilia (Lupe Ontiveros – Real Women Have Curves, El Norte, Picking up The Pieces).

The initial meeting takes a left turn when both fathers meet and insults begin to fly and an immediate intense competition begins. Both are committed to one-up the other, it doesn’t matter if it’s eating, sitting in a chair, singing or paying for the wedding someone’s winning and someone’s losing. We all know that Carlos Mencia is a comedian but Forest Whitaker was a huge surprise. His comedic timing was absolutely great. He held his own and you just wait anxiously for another scene between these two dads.

Bringing a sense of normalcy to Brad’s life and the entire bunch is his best friend from college and lawyer Angie played by actress Regina King (Southland, Miss Congeniality 2, Jerry Maguire, Enemy of the State). She manages to give everything in this film a sense of balance. I believe without her the film would have fallen short in several areas.

With only two weeks to REALLY understand and incorporate African American and Mexican traditions the families set about making sure each is represented on the big day.

A key scene that shines a brilliant light on the differences between the two is where Lucia, because she’s afraid to tell her dad that she’s dropped out of law school, stands by as he berates Marcus for being less of a man and volunteering in a foreign country and then ultimately living off of his daughter’s lawyer income. It is her Catholic upbringing, tight family bond coupled with their Mexican tradition that has created this level of fear and uncertainty that Marcus simply doesn’t get. He wanted her to stand up for him and she just couldn’t.

Both Anjelah Johnson and Lupe Ontiveros were spectacular in this film. As Izzie, Anjelah’s dry humor not only catches you off guard, but was so very perfect for the tomboy daughter who’s a mechanic and refuses to let a man trap her into marriage. As the grandmother Lupe set the perfect tone for tradition. You weren’t going to disrespect her, so she got away with a great deal and you loved it.

“Our Family Wedding” was clear on its intent and delivered, it’s not a record breaking film, it’s a realistic film. It wasn’t corny; it shined a light on where you’re headed once you get married and all of your new lifelong travel companions. Either you believe it or wait to experience it. If you’re getting married, it will happen to you.

Just remember the mantra, “Our Marriage, Their Wedding.”