‘The Wedding Banquet’: Sundance Review

Dir: Andrew Ahn. US. 2025. 103mins

Andrew Ahn’s newest function sensitively reimagines Ang Lee’s 1993 Oscar-nominated romantic comedy, with the unique’s co-writer James Schamus co-scripting and co-producing the replace. An supposed marriage of comfort nonetheless lies at its coronary heart, however the relationships are given a contemporary makeover as Ahn probes questions of dedication and celebrates the households we select to make for ourselves. A sensible if broad comedy that’s exposition-heavy in locations, it boasts a powerful ensemble solid who give it a shot within the arm.   

Likeable stars and heat inclusivity

Ahn is returning to the Sundance Premieres part after his debut Spa Evening performed in competitors on the competition in 2016. The Marriage ceremony Banquet’s likeable stars and heat inclusivity make it the perfect alternative for opening evening movie at BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Movie Competition in March, adopted by an April launch by way of Bleecker Avenue within the US. Common Footage Content material Group has worldwide rights, with no dates but set.

Right here, the motion is transported from New York to Seattle, the place 4 homosexual associates are additionally neighbours. Chris (Bowen Yang, who additionally starred in Ahn’s Hearth Island) is in a long-term relationship with Korean wealthy child Min (Han Gi-chan). Together with his pupil visa set to run out, Min proposes to Chris, however the American will get chilly toes. Their friends Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and Lee (Lily Gladstone), in the meantime, are struggling to have a child by way of IVF, with Angela more and more nervous that parenthood may see her replicating the difficult relationship she has along with her mom Might (Joan Chen). Angela’s downside, in a pleasant twist on what could be anticipated, stems not from the truth that Might disapproves of her life decisions, however that she is so fully supportive that she has simply gained a Homosexual Ally award.

The answer the buddies come across is the form of contrived association that would solely come up in a comedy comparable to this. Min – whose household don’t know he’s homosexual – will enter into a wedding of comfort with Angela in return for paying for one more spherical of fertility therapy for the ladies. The transactional nature of all this appears bizarre as a result of they’re alleged to be finest buddies and Min is flush with money however, fortunately, at this level Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) decides to jet in from Korea to fulfill the bride. 

Min’s gran is a wiser cookie that could be anticipated and her presence takes the story to sudden locations, subtly shifting the unique’s subterfuge as the marriage banquet of the title is deliberate. Minari Oscar-winner Youn brings a twinkly vitality and emotional depth to her character, making her the movie’s biggest asset.

When the comedy is given room to breathe in between all of the chunks of expositional again story, the remainder of the solid additionally ship – together with throughout a farcical scene during which the foursome “de-queer” the ladies’s residence forward of the arrival of Min’s gran. Angela will get one of the best of the characterisation, largely as a result of Tran is ready to play off Chen’s nuanced efficiency, though virtually all of their battle is crammed right into a single dialog. The remainder of the group feels short-changed by comparability, significantly Gladstone’s Lee, whose solely defining function appears to be that she desperately desires a toddler.  

When it comes to craft, the costuming from Matthew Simonelli stands out, from the lived-in look he provides the youthful characters to the status-driven clothes of Might and his work on an in depth conventional outfit that pupil designer Min crafts for his grandmother for the marriage.

There are not any dangerous guys right here so the stakes are on the low facet, however Ahn finds elegant variation in the way in which the {couples}’ conflicts are resolved. It’s not what they are saying however how these characters present their love that counts.