'The Wedding Banquet': an unlikely pair

All in all, and for the headline, this is an incredibly funny and heartwarming film that uses many different connections and cross-pollinations to discuss so many different topics that millennial queers are going through at this point in history. The performances, by everyone, are undeniable, and would, in any other world, be worthy of Oscar runs. We shall see.

This is a story about commitment, and the lack of it. It also bridges into Queer trauma, Asian trauma, and the concept of family as a whole. Though it felt like the paternal side of the argument was missing, what was explored through the maternal was brilliant, and well handled.

However, the ways the dialogue handled the plot, and the performers therefore, weren't as even tempered throughout – sometimes it was pitch perfect, sometimes, yes, it did feel a bit abrupt, or otherwise, yes, mismatched to the circumstances.

What I mean is - There seemed to be something at the core of the film that was a little less well-matched. I could easily feel the 90's/early 00's comedic rhythm and sincerity, and in many cases, could suspend my disbelief. But when reminded of modern post-irony, and especially with such modern cinematography – sometimes, this vintage sincerity bordered on corny, or at least, out of the context in which it was best suited.

In plain terms - some of the scenes came off a little too on-the-nose, which would have been masked in a more vintage shooting style or performance style, but in the naturalistic world of the film, felt forced.

Kelly Marie Tran is a performer unlike any other, and Lily Gladstone was simply divine. Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan did a fantastic job, but I felt as if most of their scenes were as described above - either hitting above or below the bullseye, to the point that I couldn't suspend disbelief anymore.

One more time, I will say this is an amazing time at the cinema - a funny, captivating story performed incredibly well.