Accept the invitation to this Wedding Banquet.

In The Wedding Banquet, we’re introduced to Lee (Lily Gladstone), a young woman who desperately wants to have a baby with her more-unsure partner, Angela (Kelly Marie-Tran). As they undergo difficult IVF treatments, they’re supported by their friends (and housemates) Chris and Min (Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan). Chris and Min have also been together for five years but haven’t gotten married yet. Things become more complicated, however, as Min’s US Visa is about to expire. Together, they hatch a plot. Min will marry Angela and, in return, Min will fund their IVF treatments. But, after Min tells his matriarchal grandmother about his impending wedding, her arrival forces them into an elaborate deception in order to secure Min’s green card and keep both couples together.

Directed by Andrew Ahn, this Wedding Banquet is worth accepting the invitation. Based on Ang Lee’s 1993 film of the same name, the film uses much of the same premise but evolves it into something fresh. By expanding the storyline to include two couples, Ahn places even more pieces on the board to cause greater rom-complications. This is the sort of film that thrives on high concept humour. Romances are threatened, lies are told, and secrets spiral out of control.

Though truly, what makes Wedding Banquet work is its ability to undercut those same romcom tropes. Every time the film sets up moments that we can telegraph, Ahn finds a way to end the tension. For example, wondering whether they can keep up the charade? Nope. That ends in the next scene. Got a big secret that should last until the third act? Ahn gives it away seconds later. To some, this may feel like sloppy writing or missed opportunities.

But, to me, it’s what makes the film feel so authentic.

Amidst its ‘will they/won’t they’ tensions, Wedding Banquet is more interested in its characters than any particular story gimmicks. Sitting in the most bizarre of circumstances, these are all characters who are simply trying to figure things out. Chris isn’t sure if he’s ready to step into adulthood. Lee yearns for parenthood but continues to struggle with IVF. Min struggles to come out to his family for fear of shame. And, of course, Angela seems frozen in time, unable to move towards genuine responsibility. But Ahn uses their flaws to create comedy that feels genuine. Despite heightened circumstances, all of these characters are both awkward and funny in their own right but also grow and mature.

Even at its silliest, Banquet portrays these characters with the utmost sincerity. There’s a beauty in their journeys as their stories weave in and out of each other’s lives. Credit must be given here to some truly wonderful performances by an incredible cast. With humility and humour, Tran, Gladstone, Yang and Gi-chan seamlessly play off one another. We truly believe that these characters (and the performers themselves) care for one another, even when they’re making mistakes that threaten their relationships.

To paraphrase the film, they’re all ‘miracle messes.’

It’s also worth mentioning this Banquet would not be complete without some strong work by Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-jung as the necessary matriarchs. Although the relationships between parents and children can often cause tension, Wedding Banquet also works against this trope as well. Rather than simply lean on awkward stereotypes, this older generation is genuinely trying to understand and support the younger generation. At their worst, they’re self-absorbed or stuck in their ways. But, at their best, they provide emotional support that their millennial children so desperately need. 

It’s exactly this magical mixture of comedy and compassion that makes The Wedding Banquet worth attending. Together, this unlikely crew creates something genuinely special. It’s heartwarming in moments, hilarious in others and, most importantly, finds the beauty in all of us who are a mess.

The Wedding Banquet is available in theatres on Friday, April 18th, 2025