The Wedding Banquet
April 16th, 2025
MOVIE: THE WEDDING BANQUET
STARRING: KELLY MARIE TRAN, BOWEN YANG, LILY GLADSTONE, HAN GI-CHAN,
YOUN YUH-JUNG
DIRECTED BY: ANDREW AHN
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
Andrew Ahn tells deeply human stories. His films radiate empathy and care, focusing on characters who, while imperfect, are driven by kindness and love. The conflicts they face often stem from misunderstandings—whether among family, friends, or within the LGBTQ+ community struggling to be seen—and beneath it all, his stories are always about love.
Following the delightful Fire Island, Ahn returns with a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 The Wedding Banquet, modernizing its themes while keeping its warm, heartfelt core intact. The result is a beautiful blend of joy, sorrow, laughter, and drama—just the kind of film we need more of, especially from a director as compassionate as Ahn.
This updated Wedding Banquet centers on two queer couples: Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and Lee (Lily Gladstone), who are navigating their second round of IVF while managing the emotional demands of Angela’s self-righteous mother, May (Joan Chen); and Min (Han Gi-Chan) and Chris (Bowen Yang), longtime partners facing the expiration of Min’s work visa and Chris’s hesitation around marriage. All four live together—Angela and Lee in the main house, Min and Chris in the guest house—as a chosen family. But when life throws a series of curveballs, their love and friendship are put to the test.
To solve both Min’s immigration dilemma and Angela and Lee’s IVF struggles, a plan is hatched: Angela will marry Min, granting him legal status, and in return, he’ll help fund their next IVF round. It sounds simple enough—until Min’s grandmother (played wonderfully by Oscar-winner Youn Yuh-jung) arrives unexpectedly. Suddenly, everyone must keep up the charade for the plan to work.
Ahn also penned the screenplay, updating James Schamus’ original script with fresh nuance and emotional resonance. He makes a strong effort to give each of the four leads their moment. Lily Gladstone brings a gentle, nurturing presence; Bowen Yang surprises with a grounded, vulnerable performance that reveals a character caught in emotional limbo. But it’s Kelly Marie Tran who truly shines—this might be her best work yet. She brings complexity to Angela: a woman torn between her desire to become a mother, resentment toward her mother, and bouts of impulsiveness that threaten to unravel everything. Ahn masterfully balances these perspectives, crafting an ensemble story that never feels overstuffed.
While I don’t recall Ang Lee’s original well enough to make a direct comparison, what’s clear is that this version is made with tremendous love. There are no true villains here—only people trying their best in a complicated world. That’s what makes The Wedding Banquet feel so universal. It’s a story about identity, sacrifice, and the messy beauty of chosen family. A wedding where everyone is welcome—and that kind of acceptance is incredibly moving.
3 STARS
THE WEDDING BANQUET IS IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
