Behind every marriage lie the union of two families, the intertwining of two individuals and most of all lie the remnants of the most overblown party in history-the wedding. Seeing ”Father of the Bride” makes me understand why some forgo the three-ring circus and opt for the Little Chapel of Love in Vegas.
The story is a simple one: Girl meets boy, falls in love, gets engaged and has to tell Dad. This may sound simple to you, but not when your dad is George Banks (Steve Martin). Needless to say, George finally gets used to the idea and even foots the bill for the whole deal. The charm of this movie lies in the six months that elapse between the big announcement and the actual wedding. ”Father of the Bride” is supposed to be a remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracy/Liz Taylor classic, but trust me when I tell you that this is no sendup of a typical `50s romantic comedy. (For one thing, the bride-to-be goes into hysterics when her intended gives her a blender for their future home. How impossibly sexist of the brute!) Although Kimberly Williams is radiant as Annie, and Martin and Diane Keaton are hilarious as her bewildered parents, nothing could match the priceless combination of Tracy and Taylor from 40 years ago. To be honest, Martin Short stole the show as the fabulous Franck, wedding coordinator from hell. I was entertained by this show, but it never captured my heart. (STAR)(STAR) 1/2
