December 22, 2021
'Father of the Bride'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Amanda Dobbins fill out their RSVPs as they revisit the 1991 rom-com 'Father of the Bride,' starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Kimberly Williams.
Cast
Steve Martin as George Banks
Diane Keaton as Nina Banks
Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Annie Banks
Martin Short as Franck Eggelhoffer
Kieran Culkin as Matty Banks
George Newbern as Bryan MacKenzie
BD Wong as Howard Weinstein
Eugene Levy as Guest
Directed by: Charles Shyer
Written by: Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer
Notes
- $20 million budget, made $120 million at the box office.
- Steve Martin was cast before the screenplay was written – they locked him in, then Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer wrote it around him.
- Phoebe Cates was offered the role of Annie Banks but had to turn it down because she was pregnant.
- Diane Keaton said Disney/Jeffrey Katzenberg didn't want to work with her after her flop 'The Good Mother'; Shyer and Meyers had to beg to get her cast.
- Steve Martin had no children when he made this movie (he didn't have a kid until age 67); neither did Diane Keaton at the time.
- The exterior house is in Pasadena; interiors were sets. The actual interior house sold for $1.998 million in 2016.
- An actor named Tom Irish made his film debut in the 1950 'Father of the Bride' and his last film appearance in this 1991 version, playing the same character (Ben Banks).
- Martin Short's wedding planner character is based on real wedding planner Kevin Lee, who later appeared on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
- George Newbern (Bryan) went on to become one of the most prolific audiobook narrators with 350+ credits on Audible.
- There was a virtual Netflix/Zoom reunion sequel during the pandemic – considered a low point.
- 'Father of the Bride' Part 2 had a $30 million budget and made $76.6 million.
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“One of the movies with a lot of smiles and laughter and a good feeling all the way through.”
Bill was hoping for 3.5 stars.
Most re-watchable scene
- Bill and Amanda both pick Annie telling the family she's getting married – the first family dinner scene.
- Also discussed: the opening monologue, meeting Bryan, cutting down the wedding list, the blender fight, the kid montage/basketball scene.
What aged the best?
- Kieran Culkin – knowing he'd become Roman Roy on Succession. Possibly the best 'what aged the best' in the history of the category.
- Kimberly Williams.
- San Marino as a location.
- The basketball scene.
- The overwhelmed dad who can't afford the wedding as a plot device.
- The hot dog buns / hot dogs mismatch scene.
- The house.
What aged the worst?
- Getting married at 22.
- 'Father of the Bride' Part 2.
- The virtual Netflix/Zoom pandemic sequel.
- Martin Short's accent gag – one-note, that style of comedy doesn't work anymore in 2021.
- The falling-in-the-pool scene (hacky/gimmicky).
- Some of Diane Keaton's clothes (though coming back in style).
Casting what-ifs
- Phoebe Cates was offered Annie but was pregnant.
- Diane Keaton almost didn't get cast because Disney/Katzenberg didn't want her after The Good Mother.
Best "that guy"
- Winner: George Newbern (Bryan the son-in-law) – Bill didn't know his name until researching. He's been in ~200 things and is a prolific audiobook narrator.
- BD Wong – has won before but Bill says he's graduated from the category.
Over-acting award
Martin Short as Franck – described as 'most overacting' rather than 'best overacting.'
Best "heat check" performance
- Winner: Kieran Culkin.
- Martin Short disqualified – both hosts annoyed by the performance.
- Eugene Levy (one scene, fine). BD Wong. Diane Keaton (too big a role to qualify).
Re-casting couch
Bill's pick for the son-in-law role: George Clooney (1991 Facts of Life-era Clooney). Amanda pushed back that he'd pull too much focus.
Half-assed (internet) research
- Tom Irish appeared in both the 1950 and 1991 versions playing the same character.
- Spencer Tracy's Best Actor nomination for the original.
- Martin Short's character based on real wedding planner Kevin Lee.
- The exterior house in Pasadena; interior house sold for ~$2M in 2016.
Apex Mountain
- Steve Martin – not his overall apex (that's 1978-79 SNL/Jerk era), but Apex Mountain for 'mainstream Steve Martin' / second-career Steve Martin.
- Kimberly Williams – yes.
- Father-daughter movies – yes.
- San Marino – 100% yes.
- Wedding movies – yes.
- Diane Keaton – no (hers is Annie Hall). Nancy Meyers – no (hers comes later).
Picking nits
- No father-daughter dance at the wedding.
- No rehearsal dinner. No Sunday breakfast after.
- Annie and Bryan leave immediately for their honeymoon (unrealistic).
- 14-year age gap between Kimberly Williams and Kieran Culkin as siblings.
- It snows in LA (Pasadena) – 2 inches that magically melts by nighttime.
- 572 guests is too many; 200 people crammed in that house is a stretch.
- Annie doesn't tell her parents about Bryan for 3 months.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- How much did the wedding cost? (Estimated $60-90K in 1991 dollars.)
- Should this be remade as a Netflix show? (Amanda: yes, as 'Grandfather of the Bride' with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton as grandparents.)
- Is this the best Steve Martin movie ever? (Both say yes.)
- Is Annie actually a good daughter? (Bill argues no – she doesn't call for 3 months, drops a bomb, flips out over the blender, leaves the wedding without saying goodbye.)
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
- Amanda: the house (or the cappuccino maker).
- Bill: the bedazzled wedding bride sneakers.
Who won the movie?
Steve Martin. Nancy Meyers is a secondary candidate but her bigger wins come later in her career.