Review of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) by Jeff B — 06 Apr 2016

Bigger, fatter, stronger...no. After waiting 15 years, Greece isn't the word anymore for the sitcom-y schtick on display with another round of Wedding bell blues. It's confounding to think Nia Vardalos, creator and star of this sequel and its forebear, begged CBS to axe My Big Fat Greek Life, the 2003 small screen continuation of her hit big screen comedy. Granted, TV execs and the production team fought over the series' direction all season long until they turned a sure-fire smash into a 7-episode burnout. But My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a pleasant surprise lucky enough to sustain one movie but certainly not two let alone a sitcom, charmed it's way into people's hearts because it IS a big-screen sitcom. The jokes lack a laugh-track but the characters and situations smack of canned laughter. Just like with Zoolander 2 just months ago, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 arrives late to a party it really wasn't invited to.

In this PG-13-rated comedy, a Portokalos family secret brings the beloved characters (Vardalos, Corbett, et al) back together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding.

Over-the-top, on-the-nose, and made-for-TV, the overall production makes nice...as in it earns praise meant for a child handing you a drawing: "that's nice, honey." Harmless fun, these continued goings-on examine over-familiar comedy themes and situations recycled from countless shows and movies, but all involved - Vardalos especially - works hard for your approval. Unwanted? Yes. Unnecessary? Well, mostly. If My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 rears its unneeded head, however, all courtesy and niceties will go the way of Pompeii.

Bottom line: It's All Greek to Meh.