‘Father of the Bride’ is a Love Story from an Unexpected Angle

This 1991 film is a remake of a 1950 film starring Elizabeth Taylor. This update features actors Steve Martin, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Diane Keaton as the Banks family.

The Original

Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s sweet countenance was fitting for the part of Annie, the sweet-hearted, beloved bride-to-be.

George is Annie’s frugal father who still views her as a “six-year-old”. George’s character is complex, involving both sentimental and comical aspects. Steve Martin took on the character of George with success. 

Nina is Annie’s mother, played by Diane Keaton, who is supportive of Annie’s unexpected decision to get married. She does her best to make her husband George trust his daughter’s judgment. 

Meeting Bryan

Annie comes home, after months of studying abroad, to a family who expects all of her time and attention. She abruptly announces her engagement to a man they have never met. The Banks family is suddenly flung into over-drive in order to prepare for a “small-ish” wedding in only a few months.

Planning the "Big Day"

As expected, Nina and Annie are giddy about planning a dream wedding. George, though, is not sure if he supports the amount of money being spent on the wedding or his daughter’s relationship with Bryan. He says, “I used to think a wedding was a simple affair.”

“Father of the Bride” is ultimately a story of crossing fingers and hoping kids were raised well. George learns to let go of his only daughter through a series of situations which evoke emotion and laughter from the audience. He finally understands that, “She'll always love me, of course, but not in the same way. I was no longer the man in my little girl's life.”

George and Annie

I enjoyed this movie because it was a romance told from an often neglected perspective. That being considered, I would have ended “Father of the Bride” differently if it had been up to me.

I kept wishing that George and Annie would have one last heartwarming, and maybe even cheesy, encounter. I was disappointed that Annie left for her honeymoon after only telling her father good-bye over the telephone. That is why I say this movie deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

The Prime of the Series: 'Toy Story 3'

This is one animated series that has remained entertaining and focused through the years.

"Toy Story 3" Poster

“Toy Story 3” opens in tragedy, as Buzz, Woody, and the gang are struggling to get Andy’s attention. They are disappointed when they realize that Andy has more important things to worry about, particularly college.

As Andy is sorting through his belongings, he decides to keep the beloved toys in the attic together. Everyone would be sticking together, except Woody, who would be going to college with Andy.

A mix up occurs and the toys accidentally end up as donations to a daycare, and Woody, attempting to rescue his friends, is separated from Andy.

The Toys Arriving at the Daycare

Let down and hurt from not getting chosen to go with Andy, Buzz, Jessie, and the others decide to embrace their new life at the daycare and are anticipating more play time than they’ve had in years.

After a clash with Jessie and Buzz, Woody turns toward home. On his journey back, he learns that the Sunnyside Daycare is a prison.

While Woody is making plans for a jailbreak, his friends are attempting escape. They make new friends who help them stand up against a toy mafia.

Attempting to Escape

Andy’s toys realize that they are supposed to be there for him, even when it gets tough. After Andy is reunited with his childhood toys and cherished friends, he begins to understand that he should give his toys to someone who can use them. He gives them to a girl at the day care, telling her, “Now, you gotta promise to take good care of these guys. They, mean, alot to me.”

The audience holds back tears as they watch a mature Andy say good-bye to the toys who helped him grow up.

Andy, Woody, Buzz

“Toy Story 3” is a phenomenal children’s film for parents and children alike.

This movie stars the voice talents of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack. The cast pulls the audience’s heart strings through the characters. The new characters which were added to this third film brought in comic relief, as well as tension.

A touching story of growing up, “Toy Story 3” is a sentimental family film. Of course, talking toys aren’t very realistic, but probably symbolic of parents letting their children “leave the nest”. However, there was some confusion for me at the conclusion of the movie because it seemed that the toys had finally decided on their loyalty to Andy, then Andy determines that he needs to let them go. “Toy Story 3” scores a 4.5 out of 5.