Father of the Bride Part 3(ish)

Last updated
Father of the Bride
Part 3(ish)
Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) logo.jpg
Official logo
Directed by Nancy Meyers
Written byNancy Meyers
Produced by
  • Adam Nicely
  • Charles Shyer
Starring
Cinematography Dean Cundey
Edited byDavid Bilow
Music by Alan Silvestri
Production
companies
Distributed by Netflix
Release date
  • September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish) is a 2020 American romantic-comedy short film, presented in the form of screenlife story-telling. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, the movie serves as a legacy-sequel which takes place chronologically after the events of Father of the Bride Part II . It is the third release in the film series starring Steve Martin in the titular role, and is the fifth overall installment in the Father of the Bride franchise. The plot centers around the Banks family, and depicts how they handled the self-isolation restrictions order during the early days of COVID-19, while also preparing for Matthew's upcoming wedding. The short depicts his unconventional wedding, during the difficult social limitations as a result of the pandemic.

Contents

Plot

The Banks family is preparing for the upcoming marriage of Matthew "Matty" Banks and his fiancée Rachel, a discussion organized by Matty for those plans because the event was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Because they are each following the self-isolation restrictions ordered by the U.S. state and government officials, each family member joins the conversation via video conference. Through the conversation, George reminds each family member about sanitization procedures to help keep each of them from getting sick. While the family discusses the wedding plans they realize that they do not know how long the pandemic will last, which will keep them from being able to hold the wedding anytime soon.

After the family has Franck Eggelhoffer join the video conference to discuss the plans, Matty suggests that he and Rachel get married despite the circumstances. As the question arises as to how this could be possible, it is decided that Franck legally and lawfully wed the couple remotely through his wedding officiating license. The family takes part in the unconventional wedding, rejoicing in the event and Matthew and Rachel's marriage. Anne and Bryan's son, George "Georgie" Banks-MacKenzie sings a rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight" to the newlywed couple. Following the couple's ceremony, the family plans for future get togethers when the medical restrictions have been released. [1] [2] [3]

Cast

Additionally, Reese Witherspoon appears in an introductory segment which frames the creation of the short film, while encouraging viewers to donate funds to the World Central Kitchen charity.

Production

An official promotional poster that was used during advertising for the short film. Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) poster.jpg
An official promotional poster that was used during advertising for the short film.

Development

Following the release of Father of the Bride Part II, it was confirmed in 1996 that initial work had begun on a third installment. Meyers stated at that time, that she and Charles Shyer were writing a story that would see the Banks family "confronting serious problems in their relationship – but ending up with a stronger bond than ever." [4] In June 2014, rumors arose regarding the plot including a gay wedding for Matty Banks, but Steve Martin denied these rumors. [5] By February of 2016, Martin cast doubt on the realization of a third installment stating that while he would like to play the grandfather role, he didn't know if it would actually be made. [6] By October 2017, George Newbern confirmed that a script was being written, expressing excitement for the story that was being developed. [7] In July 2018, Kimberly Williams-Paisley expressed interest in reprising her role should the third movie be realized. [8]

By April 2019 CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger announced among other projects that a relaunch of the franchise was currently in development for Disney+. [9] [10] In 2020, Meyers stated that she had been working on pre-production of a project leading up to the restrictions on filmmaking as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, though she could not state what the project was at that time. [11] [12] During the pandemic, Meyers grew weary of the future and went to the store to purchase supplies prior to the self-isolation order by U.S. and state officials. Meyers stated that she became very concerned and worried about how the virus would impact the lives of her children in the years that would follow. As she forwarded every news article about the virus to her children, she eventually began to wonder how George Stanley Banks would react to conditions such as these. After decades of remaining in development hell, she officially began work on the next installment. The filmmaker began to wonder what each of the beloved characters had been up to for the last twenty-five years, and after sending an email to Steve Martin stating that she wanted to make a Part III short film that would also serve as a fundraiser for those who did not have the food supplies during ongoing pandemic, he stated that he would join the cast. This was followed by each of the respective returning cast members, with casting for the roles of Megan Banks and George Banks-MacKenzie thereafter, now chronologically adults. [13]

Writing

In preparation for the script, Meyers rewatched Father of the Bride and Part II and created some notes. She stated that all of the worries and anxieties she had about the world at that time, she put into her writing for George Banks; a character she describes as a "self-admitted overreactor". The filmmaker stated that as she worked on the project, she found happiness and excitement that she hadn't felt in a while due to the ongoing worldwide circumstances. Meyers had each of the cast members show her the rooms of their homes via Zoom, to choose a setting that she felt fit the character; while Culkin was sent a green screen to place behind him so that his New York backdrop could be changed to Los Angeles. Initially ordering various sweats to be mailed to Martin, the pair decided none of them matched the character exactly the way they wanted. When they chose an option from his personal collection, she decided to have the actors go through the clothes in their personal closets to choose the wardrobe for each character. [13]

Filming

Principal photography commenced in July 2020, and was conducted remotely with each actor filming their scenes in predetermined rooms of their personal homes. The production crew had previously sent a box filled with equipment for each of the actors to set up; with technology for cinematography, lighting, and sound. Meyers would direct each of the actors from her remote location through her laptop, with the use of Zoom. With ten cameras rolling through the entire production span, the cast followed her direction and the guidance of cinematographer Dean Cundey, through the use of their computers and iPhones. Though the cast couldn't always see the additional actors through their video feed, they could audibly hear each other. Filming lasted for four days. The director stated that at various times, the video for each actor would become blurry but through the use of various takes, they were able to get the scenes she needed to complete the short. Additionally, while each of them didn't have the usual hair and makeup team, nor the production crew present during filming, she was impressed with their abilities to follow directions and bring together the project she had hoped to realize; stating: "It all felt a bit like those old films where everyone in town helps put on a show, except these were movie stars, and I could not have been more grateful for their efforts." [13]

Post-production

Meyers stated that bringing the resources together into the cohesive story she had written proved to be a unique experience for her. She worked with the film's editor David Bilow, to compile the useable footage and captured audio, with enough footage for a standard short film. Together the production team continued to work remotely, sharing their screens through a number of programs available to do so. The filmmaker later explained that though production was difficult, the entire team had fun during the process: "Even though we were never in the same room or even the same time zone, the camaraderie was still there. When it was over, it felt like all movies feel when shooting ends — a little sad. For me, I guess I always do need a project. This one, with its positive themes and love of family, made me feel whole at a time when I needed it most. And if our efforts lead to a little relief for someone else, then it was a summer well spent." [13]

Marketing

On September 10, 2020, writer/director Nancy Meyers shared the first official marketing tease for the project on her social media with a photograph of Anne and George from the first film. The filmmaker placed the first official synopsis, with the caption: "If he thought a wedding was a lot, how would he react to 2020? Coming soon to a phone in your hand!" [14]

By September 22nd, Netflix released a teaser clip which was depicted as a real-time screen sequence from the computer of George Banks, as he accepts an upcoming video conference with his family as set up by Matthew "Matty" Banks. In the teaser, the release date was officially announced. [15] On September 24 of the same year, a second trailer was released consisting of archive footage from the previous two installments. The final shot of the clip shows an exterior shot of the Banks home, where Mina shouts through the house asking George to hurry and join the video conference; while George states he will join imminently after washing his hands once more. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Release

Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) was released on September 25, 2020. The short film was distributed by Netflix, through the streaming company's YouTube and Facebook channels. [21] Though the short was released free of charge, a short video introduction segment encouraged its viewers to donate money with all funds going towards the World Central Kitchen non-profit organization. [22] [23]

Reception

The short film was met with a mixed critical response. Although some called the movie "derivative", "weird", "hackneyed", "corny", and "contrived"; [24] [25] [26] praise called the short film: "emotional", [8] [27] "charming", [27] "touching", and "nostalgic". [26] Additional praise was directed at its returning cast as well as its use of big-name cameo appearances, [28] purposeful fan-servicing to Father of the Bride fans, and what they perceived as the filmmaker's role in bringing some comfort into the homes of its viewers at a time of uncertainty. [25] [29] Tabloids also commended the productions contributions to providing meals for children and families impacted by the then-ongoing coronavirus. [30] Vulture, stated that short released by Meyers shouldn't be dismissed and called the filmmaker the "Queen of the Quarantine", after she previously developed and took part in a virtual cast reunion fundraiser for The Parent Trap (1998). [31]

Potential future

Following the release of Father of the Bride Part 3(ish), various sources expressed hopes that an eventual feature length follow-up/adaptation would be developed. [26] [32] Though Walt Disney Pictures is continuing to work on a feature film for Disney+, it is not clear whether it will be a continuation or standalone movie. [33] In September 2020, Williams-Paisley confirmed that there are ongoing conversations with the involvement of Nancy Meyers for a follow-up feature film. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Kane</span> American actress (born 1952)

Carolyn Laurie Kane is an American actress. She gained recognition for her role in Hester Street (1975), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Annie Hall (1977), When a Stranger Calls (1979), The Princess Bride (1987), and Scrooged (1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Paquin</span> New Zealand actress (born 1982)

Anna Paquin is a New Zealand actress. She made her acting debut in the romantic drama film The Piano (1993), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 11, becoming the second-youngest winner in Oscar history. As a child actress, she received multiple Young Artist Award nominations for her roles in Fly Away Home (1996), The Member of the Wedding (1997), and A Walk on the Moon (1999), and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for appearing in Cameron Crowe's comedy drama film Almost Famous (2000). She also appeared in the films Jane Eyre (1996) and Amistad (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Short</span> Canadian and American actor and comedian (born 1950)

Martin Hayter Short is a Canadian and American actor, comedian, and writer. Short is known as an energetic comedian who gained prominence for his roles in sketch comedy. He has also acted in numerous films and television shows. He has received various awards including two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. Short was awarded as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Meyers</span> American filmmaker

Nancy Jane Meyers is an American filmmaker. She has written, produced, and directed many critically and commercially successful films. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Private Benjamin (1980). Her film Baby Boom (1987) was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. She co-wrote Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), and both wrote and directed The Parent Trap (1998), What Women Want (2000), Something's Gotta Give (2003), The Holiday (2006), It's Complicated (2009), and The Intern (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Weinger</span> American actor (born 1975)

Scott Weinger is an American actor. He is best known as the voice of the Disney character Aladdin in the 1992 animated film and various follow-ups, and as Steve Hale on the ABC sitcom Full House and its Netflix sequel Fuller House. For ABC, he wrote and produced for the television sitcoms Galavant and Black-ish and was a co-executive producer of ABC's The Muppets.

<i>Father of the Bride</i> (1991 film) 1991 film directed by Charles Shyer

Father of the Bride is a 1991 American romantic comedy film starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, George Newbern, Martin Short, BD Wong, and Kieran Culkin. It is a remake of the 1950 film of the same name. Martin portrays George Banks, a businessman who becomes flustered while he and his family prepare for his daughter's marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Newbern</span> American actor

George Newbern is an American actor, best known for his roles as Charlie in the ABC show Scandal (2012–2018) and Bryan MacKenzie in Father of the Bride (1991) and its sequels Father of the Bride Part II (1995) and Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish) (2020). He guest starred as Danny in Friends and had a recurring role as Julia's son Payne in Designing Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberly Williams-Paisley</span> American actress and film director

Kimberly Payne Williams-Paisley is an American actress known for her co-starring roles on According to Jim and Nashville, as well as her breakthrough performance in Father of the Bride (1991), for which she was nominated for several awards, and its sequel, Father of the Bride Part II (1995). Throughout her acting career, she has guest-starred on TV shows including Tales from the Crypt, George Lopez and Less Than Perfect. She is also known for her roles in made-for-TV movies, including Safe House, The Christmas Shoes, and Lucky 7, and also her role as Laura Parker in Shade, a short film that she also wrote and directed. Williams is married to country musician Brad Paisley, with whom she has two sons; actress Ashley Williams is her sister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Holly</span> American–Canadian actress (born 1963)

Lauren Holly is an American–Canadian actress. She has played the roles of Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the television series Picket Fences, NCIS Director Jenny Shepard in the series NCIS, and Dr. Betty Rogers on Motive. In film, she portrayed Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber (1994), Bruce Lee's wife Linda Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993), Darian Smalls in Beautiful Girls (1996), and Gigi in What Women Want (2000).

<i>The Parent Trap</i> (1998 film) 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Nancy Meyers

The Parent Trap is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Nancy Meyers in her feature directorial debut, and produced and co-written by Charles Shyer. It is a remake of the 1961 film of the same name and an adaptation of Erich Kästner's 1949 German novel Lisa and Lottie.

<i>Father of the Bride Part II</i> 1995 film by Charles Shyer

Father of the Bride Part II is a 1995 American comedy film starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Martin Short. It is a sequel to Father of the Bride, remake of the 1951 film Father's Little Dividend which was the sequel to the original 1950 titular film, and fourth installment overall in the Father of the Bride franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Shyer</span> Film director, screenwriter, television producer and television writer

Charles Richard Shyer is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Shyer's films are predominantly comedies, often with a romantic-comedy overtone. His writing and directing credits include Private Benjamin (1980), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), Baby Boom (1987), Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), The Parent Trap (1998), The Affair of the Necklace (2001), and Alfie (2004).

<i>The Parent Trap</i> (film series) American family comedy film franchise

The Parent Trap is an American family-comedy film series, including the original theatrical film, three made-for-television sequel movies, and a theatrical legacy sequel/soft-remake. Based on the 1949 novel Lisa and Lottie by Erich Kästner, the plot centers around identical twin sisters, who were separated at birth and rediscover each other while attending summer camp. The pair trade places upon returning home, and devise a plan to bring their family back together.

<i>Cranford</i> (TV series) British television series (2007, 2009)

Cranford is a British television series directed by Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson. The teleplay by Heidi Thomas was adapted from three novellas by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1858: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow and Mr Harrison's Confessions. "The Last Generation in England" was also used as a source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yara Shahidi</span> American actress and producer (born 2000)

Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a child, appearing in the films Imagine That (2009), Butter (2011) and Alex Cross (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adria Arjona</span> Guatemalan actress (born 1992)

Adria Arjona Torres is a Puerto Rican / Guatemalan actress. She played Dorothy Gale in the Oz book adaptation Emerald City (2017), Anathema Device in the TV adaptation of Good Omens (2019), and Bix Caleen in Andor (2022). She has had supporting roles in the films Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Life of the Party (2018), Triple Frontier (2019), 6 Underground (2019) and Morbius (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Scribner</span> American Actor

Marcus Scribner is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Andre "Junior" Johnson Jr. in all eight seasons of the ABC sitcom Black-ish, before starring as Junior in its spin-off Grown-ish from the fifth season onward, as well as voicing the character Bow in the Netflix animated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sofia Wylie</span> American actress, dancer, and Singer

Sofia Christine Wylie is an American actress. She began her career in dance before gaining prominence through her role as Buffy Driscoll on the Disney Channel comedy-drama series Andi Mack (2017–2019).

<i>Father of the Bride</i> (franchise) American film franchise

The Father of the Bride franchise consists of a series of released comedy and romantic comedy films, based on the premise of the 1949 novel of the same name. The film adaptations respectively depict the events of wedding preparations from the point of view of an overly-protective father, and his growing realizations that his daughter has grown.

Outer Banks is an American action-adventure mystery teen drama television series created by Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke that premiered on Netflix on April 15, 2020. The series is set in a community in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and follows the conflict between two groups of teenagers in search of a lost treasure.

References

  1. ↑ Calvario, Liz (September 25, 2020). "'Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish)': Cast Reunites for Endearing Quarantine Family Edition - Watch". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  2. ↑ Oganesyan, Natalie (September 25, 2020). "'Father of the Bride' Cast Reunites After 25 Years for Pandemic Wedding". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ Beresford, Tribly (September 25, 2020). "'Father of the Bride' Cast Reunites for Zoom Wedding of Kieran Culkin's Matty Banks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Steve Martin May Become 'Father' Again Sooner Than Anyone Expected". Sun Sentinel. Tribune Media Services. November 29, 1996. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ Child, Ben (June 17, 2014). "Steve Martin scotches Father of the Bride III rumours". The Guardian. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ VanMetre, Elizabeth (February 1, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Steve Martin Talks 'Father of the Bride Part III' Rumors". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Webber, Stephanie (October 10, 2017). "Father of the Bride's George Newbern Says There Is a Third Movie Script". Us Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Drysdale, Jennifer (July 31, 2018). "Kimberly Williams-Paisley on Possible Plans for 'Father of the Bride 3' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ Liptak, Andrew (April 10, 2019). "All of the shows and films Disney is planning for its Disney+ streaming service". The Verge. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hall, Jacob (April 11, 2019). "Disney+ Movies: A List Of Everything Announced (And Rumored) For Disney's Streaming Service". Slash Film. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ Rosen, Christopher (September 25, 2020). "Netflix and Nancy Meyers Team Up for a Father of the Bride Reunion Special". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  12. ↑ Rich, Katey (May 8, 2020). "Nancy Meyers on Her Quarantine Instagram, and Now Famous Kitchen Photo". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Meyers, Nancy (September 25, 2020). "'Father of the Bride,' the Pandemic and Me". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ Meyers, Nancy (September 10, 2020). "How would he react to 2020?". Instagram. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Russian, Ale (September 23, 2020). "Netflix to Host a Father of the Bride Reunion Special This Week for a Good Cause". People. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish) - Official Trailer / Netflix". Netflix. September 24, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ Yang, Rachel (September 25, 2020). "Watch Father of the Bride cast reunion Netflix special directed by Nancy Meyers". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  18. ↑ VanHoose, Benjamin (September 24, 2020). "Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish) — Watch the Teaser for the Upcoming Netflix Reunion Special". People. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  19. ↑ Epting, Claire (September 22, 2023). "The Banks Family Returns in 'Father of the Bride Part 3(ish)'". Screen Crush. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  20. ↑ Saad, Nardine (September 24, 2020). "Steve Martin's 'Father of the Bride' reunion is 'mini-movie' with dose of 2020". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  21. ↑ Garrity, Amanda (September 25, 2020). "How to Watch 'Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish)' Starring Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams-Paisley". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  22. ↑ Nicolaou, Elena (September 24, 2020). "The Father of the Bride Cast Is Reuniting for Part 3 (Ish) on Netflix". Orpah Daily. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  23. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (September 24, 2020). "'Father of the Bride' Cast to Reunite for 'Mini-Sequel' Special at Netflix – Watch the Trailer (Video)". The Wrap. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  24. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (September 26, 2020). "Father of the Bride 3 review: Zoom reunion helps you miss weddings a little less". The Guardian. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Reimann, Tom (September 26, 2020). "Watch: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Florence Pugh Team Up for 'Father of the Bride Part 3-ish'". Collider. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 Anderton, Ethan (September 26, 2020). "The Quarantine Stream: 'Father Of The Bride Part III (Ish)' Is A Charming But Contrived Beacon Of Light In A Weary World". Slash Film. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  27. 1 2 Mallenbaum, Carly (September 25, 2020). "'Father of the Bride' cast reunites 25 years later for sort-of sequel, with new cameos". USA Today. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  28. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (October 1, 2020). "Father of the Bride Part 3ish Livecast Adds Surprise A-List Names to Original Cast". ComicBook.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  29. ↑ LeDuc, Sara (September 29, 2020). "Father of the Bride: Part 3(ish): A Sweet, Modern Wedding". Wedding Bee. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  30. ↑ Crabtree, Erin (September 25, 2020). "'Father of the Bride' Stars Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and More Reunite for 'Part 3 (ish)'". US Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  31. ↑ Alter, Rebecca (September 25, 2020). "Queen of Quarantine Nancy Meyers Is Back with Father of the Bride Part 3 (Ish)". Vulture. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  32. ↑ Armitage, Helen (February 5, 2022). "Father Of The Bride 3 Explained: Cast, Is It Canon & Will A Real Movie Happen?". Screen Rant . Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  33. ↑ Dick, Jeremy (September 26, 2020). "Watch as Father of the Bride Cast Reunites for Virtual Netflix Sequel". MovieWeb . Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  34. ↑ Bueno, Antionette (September 28, 2020). "Kimberly Williams-Paisley on 'Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish)' and Possibly Reuniting Again (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.