Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long-divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin are forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son's wedding after his ultra conservative Catholic biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend. With all of the wedding guests looking on, the Griffins are hilariously forced to confront their past, present and future - and hopefully avoid killing each other in the process.
The Big Wedding is a broadly formulaic ensemble comedy remake of the French film Mon frère se marie, offering little that distinguishes it from dozens of similar wedding chaos comedies. The plot relies on predictable misunderstandings and contrived secrets that unravel in telegraphed fashion. Despite a star-studded cast (De Niro, Keaton, Sarandon, Heigl, Williams), the performances are largely wasted on thin, clichéd material — no one embarrasses themselves but no one elevates the script either. Cinematography is competent but unremarkable, functional rather than distinctive. Novelty is low given its status as a remake with a recycled premise executed in entirely conventional style. The ending resolves everything neatly and predictably. A middling, forgettable comedy that squanders its cast.