My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016), PG-13, ★1/2

No, it's not entirely about them this time. 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding, its predecessor, was a surprise indie hit that charmed audiences including myself. I thought it was a heartwarming, funny and sweet romantic comedy that was relatable to not just Greek families but about every large family of any particular race. I, myself, have a big family and gossip spreads around sometimes and can particularly take things the wrong way...sometimes. But, all in all, you love them. However...this sequel, either we wanted one or not after the short-lived My Big Fat Greek Life in 2003, is nearly cringe-inducing sitcom with forced jokes and dramatic soap-opera that you might need a laugh-track to manipulate you to laugh.

The movie interweaves three plots amongst a big crowd or a big family that does not generate as much suspense as the other. Toula (Nia Vardalos) is working at Dancing Zorba's again, her parents' restaurant, after her travel agency has closed and she is not getting any "fun time" with her husband, Ian (John Corbett) who is now promoted to the principal of the high school he was working at in the first movie.

Another subplot is with their daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris) wanting to go to college away from Chicago and from her big family. She wants to be independent and wants to go to NYU. But in an unnecessary narration, Toula tries all her best to be there for her daughter but even going as far as to volunteer at her school, she embarrasses both herself and her daughter. However, Ian and Toula want her to pick Northwestern University so she can stay close to her family whenever they call her.

One more subplot which is sort of central to the title is that Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan) was never legally married according to the minister not signing the marriage certificate. Gus breaks the news to Maria and insists Maria they should do a wedding immediately. Maria refuses at first because she wants Gus to propose to her which he did not do 50 years ago. But, later, she and her clan including Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin) help her out to create another big, fat Greek wedding.

The whole family. Well, not really. 

Again, its predecessor is more relatable because it can bring a whole perspective of a large family regardless of its race. But, this sequel is like another boring episode of its underwhelming show. I'll admit I chuckled at a few scenes and I laughed at one or two scenes. The movie brings forced jokes upon its material, therefore, forcing to insert some manipulative and sentimental scenes to bring the audience back to life. It did not work for me most of the time except a scene between a great-grandmother and great-granddaugther which is poignant and generational.

Almost every one of the cast is either over-the-top or in a different movie except for two. Nia Varadalo's reactions to every situation is baffling and looks too happy to be in another movie because of a paycheck but we had to suffer through her acting abilities. It's bad. John Corbett looks underwhelming and too restrained. The parents are over-the-top and it's too bad the dialogue that Michael Constantine had to recite is corny and predictable. Joey Fatone has a moment of humor but it's not much. The two performers who do well are Andrea Martin as the aunt, which I do not mind just a sole movie from her and the daughter played by Elena Kampouris. She's the only relatable character that we sympathize.

It's like being a lonely guest at a party with such gossip and overlapping conversations that you get tired of and want to get the hell out of there. This movie is a reunion that we were not waiting for and that kind of ticks me off because why don't leave some movies alone? We have sequels to Zoolander and Dumb and Dumber that did not work. And, future reboots/remakes such as Ghostbusters and Ben-Hur will be presented to us this year. Leave the good products alone. Ok, I did not care much for the first Zoolander, but you get my point. It was great seeing how each cast member is doing again but after a light-hearted trailer, I was optimistic about this movie. Well, it had a few fun moments but not enough for me to care what will happen to each character with a few too many jokes and subplots.

*1/2