reviewed by: Charity Bishop

             

It's been a couple of years since George Banks (Steve Martin) welcomed Brian McKenzie (George Newbern) into the family as a son in law. After the fracas over his daughter Annie's wedding, George has settled into complacent father-in-law mode. But his life is about to be severely shaken when Annie (Kimberly Williams) and Brian announce the inevitable... they're pregnant! George's wife Nina (Diane Keyton) is thrilled. The MacKenzies are thrilled. Everyone is ecstatic about the idea... except George. Where Nina sees grand motherhood as a wonderful experience full of precious memories and promises of the future, George suddenly becomes preoccupied with, well, how old they are.

He insists they're not old enough to be grandparents! In a sudden midlife crisis, George decides to turn to his wild youth and makes a few drastic changes. He dyes his hair and becomes an impassioned husband. He also gets fed up with the way the roof leaks and puts the family home on the market, insisting they would be better off at the beach. Fate has a few surprises in store for George Banks, and it's going to be far from an easy ride down the road of Change. A foreigner shows up and buys the house for fifteen thousand dollars. Only two conditions: his wife wants Nina's blue plates in the bargain, and they have to be out in ten days. The announcement to Nina after the transaction doesn't go over well, nor do her sudden back pains, stomachaches, and dizzy spells. Convinced she's going through menopause, Nina makes an appointment with the doctor. He calls them both to the office after several hair-raising tests and informs them soberly... they're about to have a baby. Suddenly George doesn't feel so young anymore. In fact, he's on the verge of a mental breakdown, with both mother and daughter expecting the Stork to visit during the hot summer months. With the help of Franck, the wedding planner and now an adopted branch of the family tree, George is about to have the summer of his life. Then there's that other problem... of what the new owner intends to do with the former family home...

Picking up only a few months after the first film left off, Father of the Bride II is the same family we all grew to love over the course of Annie's overblown wedding. George Banks is still the hypochondriac tightwad on the verge of insanity. Nina remains the calm, resolute voice of reason in the family. Annie and Brian are still having their occasional arguments, only to make up a few minutes later with lots of apologies, kisses, and tears. I love this film, and most of my family actually likes it better than the first movie, but despite the hilarious antics of the characters, the original Father of the Bride is still my favorite. We have a few more run-ins with the McKenzie family Doberman pinchers, the usual comic stand-up lines, and some great expressions via Steve Martin. The acting only occasionally goes overboard and George is something -- but only something -- less of a jerk this time around. 

It's implied George and Nina share a night of marital passion on the kitchen floor. He saunters in, hands her a bag from Victoria's secret, and says he'd like to make love to his wife. The two kiss and embrace, and the scene cuts away. They make some references to their evening together throughout the movie, usually in blanketed terms. On the night Annie starts labor, her father has taken a heavy (and illegal) sleeping pill provided by Franck -- they drag him out to the car, buckle him in, and going around a curve his hand falls in Franck's lap. There's virtually no language (the hairdresser says George's new hairstyle is "bitchin'," a phrase he repeats a couple of times) and only minor abuse of deity. As remained a subtle suggestion in the first time, Franck is the same limp-wristed, hysterical wedding/baby shower/party planner with a thick foreign accent.

The up side of the movie, however, far outweighs the bad. The humor is for the most part clean, and the film revolves a lot around family life -- sticking together, solving problems, dealing with life and its unexpected delights. Eventually George calms down and realizes what a joy a little boy or girl would be in their lives; the ending of the film provides closure for the audience as well as the characters. Annie drives away with a family of her own, and her father has another baby to pour his love, attention, affection, and time into. Brian and Annie have a few mild spats, as do George and Nina; but in the end they always apologize, make up, and pick up where they left off. Marriage is all about mutual submission and sacrifice, something we see exhibited beautifully. George has the opportunity to flirt with a buxom blonde at a stoplight, but refutes her sultry "Hi there," by pointing at his wedding ring!

When Nina expresses concern that he might trade her in for a newer model, George tells her he has never, ever wanted to grow old with anyone but her, nor has he regretted a moment of their married life. When it comes down to the wire, Franck, someone George intensely dislikes, becomes the glue to hold a frantic family together. I like the aspect it brings, as well as a humorous glimpse into motherhood. We might have packed away the rice from Annie's wedding, but it's not too late to pull out the diapers.