Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride spins a pretty web of nuptial fantasy, though it makes you wonder if such frenzied consumerism is really what weddings are about. That said, there's a lot to like, especially its warm, witty star, Steve Martin, who makes a great dad: he's prickly but loving, a real softie at heart. Diane Keaton has little to do here but smile through tears; her role has been usurped by Martin Short's Frank, the wedding planner whose bizarre accent makes each of his suggestions hilarious. The scenes between Frank and George are superb, and they more than make up for the overly sweet sentiment elsewhere.

Also to its credit, this film manages to capture the love (often unspoken) between a young woman and her father. As George wrestles with the fact that his little girl, who saw him as her hero, is leaving him forever, he experiences emotions that most parents and children will relate to. And in a welcome update of the original movie, Annie has to offer than just a pretty face: she's pursuing a career in architecture, and she can play a mean game of one-on-one.