Father of the Bride

Name: Father of the Bride
Genre: Comedy, Family
Released: December 20, 1991
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Steve Martin

1991

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: December 20, 1991 | PG

Starring: Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Steve Martin

Summary: In this update of the Hollywood classic, George Banks, the befuddled father who has a hard time letting go of his young daughter when she unexpectedly announces her plans to wed. Tickling funnybones, this entertaining treat chronicles George's hysterical trials and tribulations leading up to the big event. Father of the Bride promises toIn this update of the Hollywood classic, George Banks, the befuddled father who has a hard time letting go of his young daughter when she unexpectedly announces her plans to wed. Tickling funnybones, this entertaining treat chronicles George's hysterical trials and tribulations leading up to the big event. Father of the Bride promises to love, honor, and deliver the kind of motion picture fun you'll thoroughly enjoy. (Buena Vista Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Charles Shyer

Genre(s): Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Desson Howe

The movie, as a whole, isn't nearly so original. Still, it's a pleasing, well-crafted, surprisingly satisfying diversion. It's eager to entertain and has a quality that's genuinely rare these days, a spirit of gentle modesty. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The film's real subject is the unacknowledged intensity of the father-daughter bond and the difficulty of separation, though Shyer, true to his name, shies away from the more painful implications of the material. [20 Dec 1991, p.B]

Mick LaSalle

One of the nicest things about Father of the Bride is that it's not ashamed to be old-fashioned and sweet. It's also not ashamed to get sappy and drippy and gooey, but you have to take the good with the bad. [20 Dec 1991, p.C1]

Richard Corliss

At heart, though, the story is about the deep, complex, poignant love a man has for his daughter: it's the Lolita syndrome without the lust but with every bit of the doting possessiveness. [30 Dec 1991, p.71]

Matthew Gilbert

Martin is lots of friendly fun, proving once again that he is an actor with untapped range and style. Without him, the movie would deflate. [20 Dec 1991, p.54]

Christopher Harris

Alas, the perfect Steve Martin vehicle will probably never be the perfect film, no matter how endearing the silver-haired actor makes himself. And so it is with Father of the Bride; good, but by no means great. [20 Dec 1991, p.C3]

Amy Taubin

Martin's grin-and-don't-bare-it performance lifts the picture above sitcom level. [31 Dec 1991]

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User Reviews

GarryK.

Apr 8, 2008

A nice, heart-warming family comedy.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

StevenF

Sep 25, 2013

Well it certainly doesn't get more happy or possess the soft chewy centre that 'Father of the Bride' has, it's joyful, weepy, heavily flawed yet such a feel good journey from beginning to end. Steve Martin commands the screen and calmly narrates this mash-up of coming of age, comedy, lettingWell it certainly doesn't get more happy or possess the soft chewy centre that 'Father of the Bride' has, it's joyful, weepy, heavily flawed yet such a feel good journey from beginning to end. Steve Martin commands the screen and calmly narrates this mash-up of coming of age, comedy, letting go and matrimony. Martin plays George Banks, a typical 'dad' who protects and looks after his own, so you could imagine that when his daughter, Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) announces she is getting married to a virtual stranger in the form of Bryan (George Newbern) George is less than impressed, his slip of the tongue and erratic behaviour says it all, but there is never any danger that the film will throw some twisted turn of fate, a film so full of joy it can actually hurt to smile that much, while all the usual wedding obstacles occur, but these are really only there for the comedy value, not for reflective means, but the comedy is certainly there, in the form of Martin Short sporting a very peculiar accent, his flamboyant and barely understandable voice make up a fair amount of gags and generally funny personality traits. My lingering problem is the amount of fluttering butterflies that the film creates, it paints a picture that any wedding you wish to have is possible, which is untrue, but I don't believe the film was about creating a realistic explanation, but more show the journey the parents make, but again, the journey only seems to consist of daddy, as esteemed actress Diane Keaton, who plays other Nina, plays a largely unimportant role, perhaps a traditional scenario calls for a father and his daughter, but the mother is as equally important. Soundtrack, dialogue and flowing direction make this the joyous occasion indeed, granted it can often fill one with false hope, but strong performances and some heartfelt scenes make this is a very happy affair, perhaps one of the happiest, the chemistry between Martin and Williams-Paisley is convincing and full of meaningful tone, Steve Martin especially controls the situation, it's really his film and that's not a bad thing, his charisma and attitude make the film what it is, it's quite difficult to imagine anyone else in the role, even after all these years. Not the most convincing of messages throughout the film, but it definitely feels good to sit and watch the film, relaxing, funny, well orchestrated and insightful for all.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

TheChaser1985

Apr 16, 2011

Not really funny at all and the story was not as "heart warming" as has been said. But it was watchable to so it's my rating of 6...................................................................

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

ERG1008

Aug 19, 2010

Daughter returns from Italy, announces marriage, Father not happy, preparations, farce & hullabaloo!!
Steve Martin is perfect as George Banks in this well written yet predictable comedy farce.
Good support from Diane Keaton & a tremendously over the top Martin Short as the wedding planner. ADaughter returns from Italy, announces marriage, Father not happy, preparations, farce & hullabaloo!!
Steve Martin is perfect as George Banks in this well written yet predictable comedy farce.
Good support from Diane Keaton & a tremendously over the top Martin Short as the wedding planner. A mention too for his assistant who is remarkably like Gok Wan, a good while before the real one showed up.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Compi24

Apr 4, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A sweet, if marginally amusing notch in the belt for then-husband-and-wife creative team Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers, this remake of the 1951 classic "Father Of The Bride" is honestly a lot more effective when it strays away from its central conceit. The whole "wet blanket dad drags his feet throughout his precious daughter's wedding planning process" dynamic could not have wore itself more thin. Not only does it perpetuate tropes and stereotypes that just aren't as present in modern family dynamics anymore, it's just not very funny. Any and every joke that has to do with this element of the plot usually ends with Steve Martin making a goofy face or rolling his eyes. It's almost unforgivably overdone. Now, where this movie won me over was in its last half or so, where everything gets put aside and Steve Martin's character just has to make sure this wedding goes off without a hitch. The blue tuxedo, the moving of all the parked cars, the snow? All of that was eons funnier than anything we got in the hour before it. And the heartwarming resolution certainly doesn't hurt either. Yes, I'll chalk this final score up to the movie leaving a good taste in my mouth, but it's a score I stand by.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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