Synopsis: In Our Family Wedding, a mixed-race couple’s fathers must work together to plan their children’s wedding.
Release Date: March 12, 2010 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Comedy, Romance
Film Review
Production
A Black Man and a Mexican Woman are going to get married. Let the racial tensions begin, and never end. Our Family Wedding sets up the tension between the family’s because of race/ethnicity but it forgets that there needs to be more to a story. The term “grow up” comes to mind when listening to the absurd comments and witnessing the poor ways the two father’s treat each other because they are not thrilled about their children becoming part of a mixed-race couple. Carlos Mencia, as Lucia’s father Miguel, is incredibly whiny; Marcus’ father Bradford (Forest Whitaker) is a womanizer who prefers women half his age. Neither man is someone you want to like, or invest in, as a family patriarch, nor show any respect for with their disgusting displays of machismo. As for the couple themselves, Lucia and Marcus, they are insignificant as neither one seems to have a personality of their own. Overall, attending this wedding is like attending the wedding from hell, where you hope there is an open bar so just maybe you will forget it ever happened the next morning.
Chemistry
With so many characters in Our Family Wedding, you would think some of them would click onscreen. Alas, not a one does and it is quite painful to watch them try. Not even the main couple, Lucia (America Ferrera) and Marcus (Lance Gross), who are supposed to be madly in love, have any form of chemistry whatsoever. When they kiss it makes me feel sorry for both of them to be making the choice to spend the rest of their lives together. There is zero passion and even less affection. As for the family members, they come across as if being in the same room together is the last place they ever want to be. Yet Our Family Wedding sets it up so you are meant to believe these are two very close-knit family’s. Could have fooled me.
Comedy Factor
A viewer can only take so many poorly executed, clearly stupid, jokes about race and ethnicity and culture for so long. When do the real jokes begin? Or the situational comedy? Maybe a small dose of banter? Never. The only thing you will experience in Our Family Wedding is silence. Lots and lots of silence from everyone around you as they ponder along with you how this film can be considered part of the comedy genre.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Rick Famuyiwa
- Screenwriters: Wayne Conley, Malcolm Spellman, Rick Famuyiwa
- Cast: America Ferrera (Lucia Ramirez), Forest Whitaker (Bradford Boyd), Regina King (Angela), Lance Gross (Marcus Boyd), Carlos Mencia (Miguel Ramirez)
- Editor: Dirk Westervelt
- Cinematographer: Julio Macat
- Production Designer(s): Linda Burton
- Country Of Origin: USA