A Reminder That Time With Our Loved Ones Is Valuable, And We Should Make The Most Of It
Published: September 9, 2023
By: Ella S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14
From writer and director Nia Vardalos, the worldwide phenomenon MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING is returning to theaters with a brand-new adventure. Join the Portokalos family as they travel to a family reunion in Greece for a heartwarming and hilarious trip full of love, twists and turns. Opa!
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ella S. comments, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is the latest of the hilarious trilogy — this time with more emotion and nostalgia added to its humor. I was amazed by the cinematography, the characters, and, of course, the jokes!”
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Ella S.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is the latest of the hilarious trilogy — this time with more emotion and nostalgia added to its humor. Fans of the franchise will love watching their favorite Greek family back for another wedding, and this time, it’s set in Greece! I was amazed by the cinematography, the characters, and, of course, the jokes!
The movie follows the Portokalos family as they vacation to their recently deceased father’s (Michael Constantine) hometown in Greece for a family reunion coordinated by their cousin and self-appointed mayor Victory (Melina Kotselou). In Greece, Toula (Nia Vardalos) attempts to fulfill her father’s death wish — to deliver his old journal to his childhood friends George (Ektoras Kaloudis), Dimos (Menelaos Ntaflos), and Thanasis (Spyros Kasfiks). However, the discovery of even more new extended family members leads to yet another Greek wedding.
Throughout the film, the landscapes are beautifully captured, showing some very beautiful pictures of rural Greece. We see lush green forests and rolling hills, crystal-clear rivers, and cloudless blue skies. Closer to the village, we see a long winding road, cobblestone streets, secret passageways, and older, worn buildings that have a rustic charm to them. Several times, we see sunny beaches with white sand. This makes it feel more like a three-dimensional experience than a movie. While fans will miss Grandpa Gus and his amusing ability to connect every word to its Greek root, they will enjoy meeting newer characters, such as Toula’s daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris). Also, many familiar characters have returned, including Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin), who thinks she’s in charge of everyone else, and Toula’s cousin Nick (Louis Mandylor). The soundtrack features upbeat Greek songs, such as the wedding dance. But my favorite part of the movie is all the jokes. Every morning, the family is awakened by a rooster. Cousin Nick hilariously tries to shave his face at the breakfast table. There is one scene where a sheep randomly enters the house before most people are up. An aunt is startled by the sheep, which is right next to her when she wakens, and exclaims that she thought her husband had come back from the dead.
This film reminds us that time with our loved ones is valuable, and we should make the most of it. We only get to live once, so we should live each day to the fullest and appreciate our cherished people daily.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 gets 4.5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It’s in theaters now.