I saw The Wedding Banquet mostly to support one of my favorite people ever, Bowen Yang. I think he’s brilliant and talented and hilarious and to see him in a film with Lily Gladstone, who got an Oscar nomination for her unreal performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, was highly anticipated. The film was also directed by Andrew Ahn who directed Bowen in 2022’s Fire Island alongside Las Culturistas partner Matt Rogers, among many other of their famous comic pals. I thought Fire Island was funny and sweet so I was excited to see what The Wedding Banquet had in store. 

Based on the original Ang Lee 1993 film, a gay man, Min (Han Gi-chan), proposes a green card marriage to a female friend, Angela (Kelly Marie Tran), in exchange for paying for her IVF treatment. Min is dating Chris (Bowen Yang) who is afraid of commitment and Angela is with Lee (Lily Gladstone) who is ready to start their family. However, things get even more complicated when Min’s grandmother surprises them with plans for an extravagant Korean wedding. The film was 1) not what I was expecting and 2) not really made with me as the audience in mind. I thought there would be more heightened antics. Like a rom-com that’s much heavier on the com. But, instead, the tone was much softer and sweeter. The movie is also set in Seattle and the whole thing has a (for lack of a better phrase and not meant in a derogatory way) crunchy granola vibe to it that isn’t exactly my aesthetic. I also didn’t love the pacing of the movie. It felt mostly aimless even though theoretically it should all be building to the wedding.

When I say it wasn’t made for me, I mean that the messages about queer love stories and owning your identity in your family and in the world are not experiences I can personally relate to. And that’s okay. Not every movie should be made with an audience like me in mind. These are still important stories that need to be told for the people out there that they will feel deeply personal for. I had trouble connecting with the film at first. But then I finally got there. It was the heartfelt scenes about family and found family that hit me. Yes, I did cry. Youn Yuh-jung as Min’s grandmother affected me the most. She was incredible. Her performance was both confident and stubborn as well as open and loving. She was really the standout of the entire movie for me.

I found the movie just fine. Seeing all the rituals of the traditional Korean wedding was cool and much of the plot hinging on a codependent, incestuous friend group felt very based in reality. But I wanted more from it than just being sweet with the occasional laugh. I felt like there was so much more potential there. So if we’re picking sides, Fire Island is much more my speed (check it out if you haven’t!). And, Bowen, keep doing big things!

2025 Count: 28 movies, 21 seasons of television, 3 specials