Lily Gladstone & Kelly Marie Tran’s Queer Rom-Com Is a Sweet Hit!

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The Wedding Banquet (2025)

Launch Date: 18th April, 2025

At the Helm: Andrew Ahn (Director)

Script by: Andrew Ahn and James Schamus

Leading Actors: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, Youn Youh-Jong

Rating Warning: This film is rated R for its use of strong language and some explicit content/nudity.

Duration: The movie spans 102 minutes.

Have you ever pondered over how romantic comedies used to be? I’m quite fond of snuggly, Netflix rom-coms like everyone else, but then a film such as The Wedding Banquet comes along and stirs the thought that this genre can encompass grandeur, humor, and cinematographic charm while still maintaining an intimate and cozy feel. This fresh release may not be a big-studio production, having made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year, but it possesses a delightful and engaging quality that makes it an instant crowd-pleaser and a potential new favorite comfort movie for you.

A few years back, director Andrew Ahn captured our hearts with Hulu’s Fire Island, a unique reinterpretation of Pride & Prejudice set against the vibrant, queer-friendly backdrop of Long Island’s vacation paradise. Joel Kim Booster penned the script for this production. Now, Ahn has teamed up to co-write and direct a contemporary version of Ang Lee’s 1993 comedy The Wedding Banquet. This new adaptation not only honors the essence of the original, but it stands as a remarkable achievement in expressing queer joy for the LGBTQ+ community, and is just an enjoyable film overall.

I didn’t expect to see Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran in a romantic comedy, but here we are… and their dramatic backgrounds help ground The Wedding Banquet.

In the realm of romantic comedies, you’d often find a familiar cast that audiences anticipate. However, it wasn’t necessarily Lily Gladstone or Kelly Marie Tran who were expected after their Oscar nomination for ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ and role in ‘The Last Jedi’. Yet, these two actresses bring something extraordinary to ‘The Wedding Banquet’, blending their dramatic skills with an uncanny knack for delivering humorous moments. They portray Lee and Angela, a couple who have experienced the initial romantic sparks and many more years together before the film begins. Despite their efforts using IVF to conceive their first child, they’ve encountered not just failure but accumulated substantial debt in the process.

As a passionate cinephile, I can relate to Lee (Gladstone) who’s exhausted and burdened from numerous past trials. At this juncture, the weight of it all leaves me stuck, unable to move forward. However, Min (South Korea’s Han Gi-Chan), in his desperation for a green card and Chris (Bowen Yang) not quite ready to wed, presents an unusual yet fitting solution: Min proposes to Angela so he can remain in America, and in return, he will contribute towards their upcoming IVF costs. This plan seems tailor-made for each character’s desires… that is, until Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung from the Oscar-winning film ‘Minari’) arrives from South Korea to witness the newly betrothed couple.

In addition to finding Tran and Gladstone an endearing couple, the movie The Wedding Banquet also focuses on creating a blend of humor and poignant moments for Min and Chris, while simultaneously exploring the relationship dynamics between Angela and her overly involved mother Joan Chen, as well as Min’s bond with his grandmother. Bowen Yang from Saturday Night Live is skilled at delivering humorous lines, but Han truly excels in generating laughter in his debut English-language film.

The Wedding Banquet balances a storyline about queer acceptance and joy with grace.

Exploring the dual nature of “The Wedding Banquet” as both a comedic wedding tale and a profound family drama that connects with the LGBTQ+ audience, the film could have easily veered into discomfort, but its skillful blend of tones is one of the reasons it’s so rewarding. You’ll certainly enjoy the hilarious antics among the cast as they frantically organize a traditional Korean wedding to ensure everything falls into place for both couples. However, what truly sets this movie apart is its exceptional screenplay – penned by Ahn and co-writer James Schamus of the original “The Wedding Banquet” – which delves deeply into the motivations behind these characters’ decisions, adding layers to the narrative.

On Angela’s part, a deeply impactful narrative unfolds between Tran’s character and Chen’s May, as they navigate a complex and flawed mother-daughter bond, further strained when Angela contemplates her own journey towards motherhood. Meanwhile, Min’s storyline resonates strongly with raw emotion as the plot progresses. In portraying stories about LGBTQ+ acceptance, films often veer too much into caricature or gravity, but The Wedding Banquet strikes a remarkable balance, feeling authentic and deeply human.

Fire Island writer/director Andrew Ahn delivers another refreshing twist on a classic with this movie.

Andrew Ahn’s direction frequently discovers distinctive perspectives to depict his characters, skillfully avoiding turning the movie into any stereotypical tropes during its duration. It’s almost inescapable not to empathize with these characters and hope for their success as they navigate wedding rituals such as photos, bachelor parties, and family gatherings. Jay Wadley’s score also tenderly enhances the movie.

As I watched this film unfold, it eloquently conveyed the significance of found families and imperfection in a way that was almost heart-wrenching – yet, there was an undeniable sense of triumph as each character emerged from their storylines, leaving me with bittersweet tears and a warmth in my heart. It’s the kind of emotion that reminds me of why romantic comedies continue to be such a compelling genre when crafted thoughtfully.

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2025-04-20 17:37