My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

Stars: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Nat Wolff, Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone

Director: Kirk Jones

A long-delayed sequel to the 2002 original, which most of us will have either not seen or forgotten. This time round, Toula's (Vardalos) grouchy old father (Constantine), who's out to prove he's descended from Alexander the Great, and aggressive, Jewish-style mother (Kazan) discover they're not married, and decide to tie the knot all over again, thus justifying the title.

But, of course, everything goes pear-shaped, when Mama, incensed that Papa considers her his employee at the family restaurant, refuses to go through with it.

Meanwhile, Toula and husband Ian (Corbett), who isn't Greek, worry about their daughter (the appealing Kampouris) moving away when she's accepted both at a local university and one in New York.

It's the mixture as before, but without the freshness of the original; there are lots of mild sex jokes, but everyone sems to be straining too hard for laughs under the weight of a mostly clichéd script. Still, there are one or two nice moments, especially when the usually black-clad granny (Martin) appears done up for the wedding: 'I love your hair,' says one attendee. 'I didn't know she had hair,' says another.

The preview audience seemed to like the film, with lots of laughs and a smattering of applause at the end. Or perhaps that was just the Greek contingent.

Fact buffs might note that Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson not only produced this, but plays a small role and even sings over the end credits. Whoever knew that Mrs Hanks could sing this well?

David Quinlan

Canada 2016. UK Distributor: Universal. Technicolor.
94 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 25 Mar 2016