The Wedding Banquet

Co-written by James Schamus, this pleasing and lively update on Ang Lee’s 1993 closet comedy transplants the story to contemporary Seattle and the Korean-American community (actually it was shot in Vancouver, but don’t tell Trump) . Of course attitudes have changed in the intervening 30 years, so this is anything but a straight remake (ha ha). Schamus and Ahn (Fire Island) shuffle the pack with ingenuity and and intention, adding a second queer couple and doubling complications.

Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan play Chris and Min, a gay couple living in the comfy garage of their lesbian pals Lee and Angela (Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran). To stay in the US without offending his wealthy, homophobic grandfather back in Korea, Min proposes to “marry” Angela, and in return pay for Lee’s IVF treatment. Then there’s Joan Chen as Angela’s over-bearing mom, and Minari Oscar-winner Youn Yuh Jung as Min’s stern Korean grandmother, who insists on a traditional ceremonial wedding.

Laughs flow thick and fast and you can tell that Ahn really enjoys his characters.

Charming, and unexpectedly moving.

Alissa Wilkerson, New York Times

Thoroughly enjoyable and winningly sincere.

Carlos Aguilar, Variety