“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” is a must-watch for all fans of the original movie or for anyone with a big, loud family.

To prepare for seeing the 2023 film, I decided to watch the first movie. I found that the original “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, released in 2002, was a laugh-inducing, heart-warming piece. Nia Vardalos stars as Toula Portokalos looking for love and independence from her overbearing Greek family. When she falls for a non-Greek man named Ian Miller, played by John Corbett, her family freaks out. However, after a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Toula and Ian find a happy ending with a Portokalos wedding. It was an adorable romantic comedy with a sweet message about the importance of family. 

To be completely honest, I haven’t seen the second movie and did not feel lost at all when seeing the new release. At the start of the movie, there is a comprehensive recap for the audience that catches you up. However, I would definitely recommend seeing the first movie for greater context and to get to know the characters, as doing so led to one of the most captivating aspects of the movie: seeing the cast grow up. All the actors aged beautifully, especially Aunt Voula, Toula, and Ian. When each character appeared on the big screen, it felt like seeing an old friend again. 

The movie centers around Toula leading the Portokalos family to a reunion in her late father’s Grecian hometown. She is determined to carry out her father’s dying wish by delivering his journal to his childhood friends—who may or may not be alive. These scenes were definitely emotionally charged, but they were balanced by positive, sibling bonding moments and a love story within. I enjoyed seeing how after all these years, the family dynamic had not changed, with members remaining as nosy and loving as ever. The love story shifts to Toula and Ian’s college-age daughter Paris, as she overcomes struggles and discovers herself, extremely reminiscent of her mother’s story. 

In true Portokalos fashion, there is a happy ending and possibly a big, fat, Greek wedding. The many plotlines left some aspects of Toula’s mission unresolved or overlooked, but it was not confusing. Like the previous two installments, the movie was only about 90 minutes long, providing a short and sweet viewing experience. Due to the incredible cast of old and new characters and exciting storyline, I rate the film a 4/5.

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