World News – United States – Father of the Bride cast reunite for pandemic short, starring surprise wedding

It’s been 25 years since we last saw the Banks family, whose wild adventures with weddings and babies fueled the 1991 and 1995 films « Father of the Bride » and « Father of the Bride ». bride II «  »

But the cast – including Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, George Newbern, Martin Short, and Kieran Culkin – have all reprized their roles for a new short, directed virtually by original series writer Nancy. Meyers They also recruited Ben Platt and Florence Pugh to play the now adult babies of the second film.

The short featured the gang on a call from the Zoom family, with George completely retired and sleeping in the spare bedroom as they socially walked away

« I need to see my family in person and not on screen, » said George – more nervous than ever – before making sure everyone was good at masks, zinc, vitamin C and pulse oximeters « I have never had anything this bad to overreact except marriage, » he added

The reason Matty asked them all for a videoconference: He wanted to ask his doc ER girlfriend Rachel (Alexandra Shipp) to marry him, on the spot, on Zoom « I’ve waited 30 years to be the father of the groom and now his father is out of the marriage?  » George exclaimed « Was that his father’s idea? »

The family watched Matty convince Rachel to a virtual wedding, as she self-quarantined at a hotel after her shift. Her father – played by Robert De Niro – also joined in. appeal, George handing over his title of « Father of the Bride »

There were tears, laughter, and many mispronounced words, before George gave a final toast to celebrate the importance of family – which now, thankfully, includes a doctor – and Platt performed « The Way You Look Tonight « 

In a New York Times editorial, Meyers said the idea came to her while in quarantine at home during the coronavirus pandemic. « On the news, there were families lining up for food in 2020 America It was heartbreaking, « she said » What can I do? What can I do? I asked myself This is where I emailed him and Steve Martin asked if he had time to chat He replied: ‘I only have time’ « 

She explained that she thought it was the perfect time to learn about George Banks, the ‘self-admitted supercraft’, and see how he and the rest of the characters would react to the pandemic.

“There was a Zoom cue with all the actors showing us their homes,” she explained of the shoot. “The rooms had to be adapted to their characters, but also adapted to the shoot When one of the actors didn’t have a working space, we sent them green screens and found some suitable backgrounds to insert later Kieran, for example, lives in New York, but his character is supposed to live in Los Angeles, so we gave him a green screen and used a photo of my daughter’s dining room as a background. « 

Although Meyers said shooting the stage was ‘difficult’ it was also ‘a fun challenge’ “It’s also something that has been a bit of a distraction for her – and a project she’s hoping for. will offer some escape to those who watch it too

“This one, with its positive themes and love of family, made me feel whole at a time when I needed it most,” she said. “What if our efforts bring some relief to someone else, so it was a great summer « 

Father of the Bride, Steve Martin, Netflix, Matty Banks, George Banks, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Diane Keaton, Nancy Meyers