Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Underwhelming threequel best for die-hard fans; innuendo.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
What's the Story?
In MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3, the Portokalos family has lost their patriarch, Gus (actor Michael Constantine died in 2021). Toula (writer-director Nia Vardalos); her husband, Ian (John Corbett); and their college-aged daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris) -- as well as Toula's brother Nikos (Louis Mandylor), their aunts Voula (Andrea Martin) and Frieda (Maria Vacratsis), and fellow Greek American guide Aristotle (Elias Kacavas), who just happens to be someone Paris briefly dated -- travel to Gus' Greek village for a special reunion. When they arrive, Toula is excited to fulfill her father's final wish: delivering his personal journal to his three childhood best friends. But those men don't live in the village anymore, and the young mayor, Victory (Melina Kotselou), admits that no one besides the Portokalos family has RSVP'd to attend the tiny village's event. While Toula searches for her father's friends, one of the few older residents, Alexandra (Anthi Andreopoulou), reveals her secret connection to Gus.
Is It Any Good?
Despite some sweet moments, this well-intentioned threequel can't recapture the novelty and humor of the 2002 original. This third (and presumably final) chapter in Toula's story doesn't offer anything new other than the reminder that middle-aged couples shouldn't let their sandwich-generation challenges keep them from taking adventures or reconnecting with either their roots or the next generation. But that laudable (if trite) message is buried under lots of obvious punchlines. Vardalos' script recycles lots of the first movie's same cultural jokes, which fall flat two decades later. In addition to the obligatory Windex references, there are constant scenes of Nikos primping, shaving (his ears, his nose, his chin, his nether regions), and preening half-naked, as well as the tired insistence that every word or historical fact is based in the Greek language or history.
The story also includes some heavy themes that aren't handled with enough care (or humor). Mrs. Portokalos (Lainie Kazan) is housebound due to mild dementia, and a subplot involving a big secret is received ludicrously well, with no emotional nuance. On the bright side, the cinematography by Barry Peterson includes lovely shots of the Greek Isles' landscapes, markets, and squares. Vardalos' second directorial feature after the 2009 romcom I Hate Valentine's Day (also starring Corbett), My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a broad family comedy that aims for crowd-pleasing but misses the mark.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes intergenerational comedies like My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 compelling. What makes them special? Why do you think so many of them are about immigrant families?
How does the movie address cultural differences? Do you know families that have blended backgrounds? How does the wedding in the film blend aspects from both the groom's and bride's cultures?
Who, if anyone, do you consider a role model in the story? What character strengths do they demonstrate?
How is drinking portrayed in the movie? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Compare this threequel to the first two movies. Do you think the franchise should end with this installment, or are there more Portokalos family stories left to tell?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 8, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : October 31, 2023
- Cast : Nia Vardalos , John Corbett , Elena Kampouris
- Director : Nia Vardalos
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Focus Features
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Cooking , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : suggestive material and some nudity
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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