My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Review: Funny & Sweet, but with a Problem!

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 brings back the Portokalos family, who are still as crazy and hilarious as ever. 

Comedy sequels are not easy to pull off, and Nia Vardalos, the film’s writer/director, has given it her all, but there were still a few caveats for sure. 

I love the Portokalos family because they remind me of my own and seeing them again in this sequel feels good — it’s like catching up with relatives after a long time. However, even though the third film has a lot of heart and some funny, sweet, and touching scenes, it also has too many plots that don’t come together nicely by the end.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters September 8

The Portokalos family is back in Greece, and the adventure is new and fresh this time! Join Toula, Ian, their daughter Paris, and the rest of the clan as they embark on a journey to honor Toula’s late father, Gus, who sadly passed away in 2021. 

Gus has left behind a journal for his three childhood friends, who live in a small town that is slowly dying. However, not everyone is happy to see the Portokalos family, especially the feisty Alexandra, who has a big secret that could change everything (Won’t tell you what it is!). 

Will the Portokalos family find their way in Greece, or will they end up in more trouble than they bargained for?

Talking about the filmography, the shooting locations are breathtaking. Each scene in the film has been shot in actual Greek locations and thus adheres to the cultural undertone.

Theia Voula never ceases to crack me up with her witty remarks like “We solve problems with threats and guilt” and “Taki, and I used to kiss so much my lips are still sore”. These are just two of the several witty catchphrases that several characters have in the film.

Vardalos also touches on the issue of Syrian refugees in Greece and the xenophobia they face, especially from Alexandra, who disapproves of Qamar marrying her grandson Christos.

Now, let’s talk about the wrong things because the film has a big problem. It suffers from having too many subplots. Vardalos wanted to give every character a role, resulting in a messy and unfocused story. 

The film jumps from one scene to another without giving enough time to develop the characters or the emotions. Some scenes, especially the ones that were supposed to be touching or funny, could have been longer so that we could enjoy the balance of humor and sentiment that the film tried to achieve.

All in all, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 tries to be a heartfelt film, but it suffers from a lack of focus. The movie has too many subplots and characters to give them all the attention they deserve. 

The main story of Toula trying to reunite Gus’ old friends gets lost in the shuffle, and the side story of Nick’s quest to honor his father is not well-developed. The film still has some funny moments, but they are not enough to make up for the slow pace and the dullness of the Portokalos family. 

Nonetheless, the film is really sweet and makes up for the creaks with its warmth. However, it could have been much better if it had a clearer vision and a tighter script.

About My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a 2023 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. The third installment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, the film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin. It is the first entry not to star Michael Constantine, who died in 2021.

Filming took place in Athens, Greece, from June 22 to August 10, 2022.

The film was released in the United States on September 8, 2023, by Focus Features.