Our Family Wedding

Plot synopsis:
Marcus Boyd (Lance Gross), a young African-American, has recently graduated from Columbia Medical School and is headed to Laos for a year to work with Doctors Without Borders. Unbeknownst to their respective parents, Marcus and his fiancee Lucia Ramirez (America Ferrera), who is Mexican-American, have been living together and would like to get married before they both head off to Laos together.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Marcus' father Brad (Forest Whitaker) is coming out of a "meeting" when he sees his car being towed by Miguel (Carlos Mencia), who happens to be Lucia's father. Brad tries unsuccessfully to halt the tow by holding on to the door of his car. Both Miguel and Brad hurl various racially based insults at one another. Brad and Miguel meet later that evening and discover that they will soon be in-laws. Both Marcus' and Lucia's family try to out do one another to make the wedding more African-American or Mexican-American, with comedic results.
Lucia has also not told her parents that she recently dropped out of Columbia Law School to volunteer teach at a charter school catering to recent immigrants. This leads Miguel to believe that she will be supporting Marcus as he volunteers as a doctor without pay. When Miguel tells Marcus that he disapproves of him living off his daughter, Lucia says nothing. Marcus feels abandoned, leading to an argument with Lucia about her commitment to their relationship. When Lucia asks Marcus if he no longer wants to get married, he replies he doesn't know, leading her to call off the wedding. She then angrily reveals to her parents the truth about dropping out of law school and living with Marcus for the past few months when Miguel offers to 'toss the ball' and Lucia's mother Sonia refers to it as 'our wedding'.
Lucia's sister Isabel (Anjelah Johnson), who disapproved of her sister getting married, makes Lucia and the rest of the family realize that Marcus makes Lucia happy and that race should not matter. Lucia goes to Marcus, they reconcile, and they end up having a wedding that embraces both African and Mexican customs.
During the end credits, several pictures of the two families are shown depicting family events, including Isabel's engagement to Harry (Harry Shum Jr.), who is Asian-American.

Tags: romantic

Review:
It's hardly one of the best movies you'll ever see, but it is overall much more enjoyable than not.The young leads are a charming, believable couple, and you do root for them.I thought the more obvious (meaning unfunny) racial jokes were actually kept to a respectable minimum, considering that culture clash is the main premise of the movie.Some scenes work better than others.
One involving a bathroom is a rather shameless and unfunny ripoff of a scene from "Father of the Bride." Carlos Mencia, I have to say, I don't think is funny or a particularly good actor.
But he wasn't enough to ruin the movie for me.The best parts of the movie were the story with Forest Whitaker and Regina King, and anything with Charlie Murphy, who has a small but hilarious role.
And yes, as another reviewer pointed out, the actress playing the sister was excellent.Most of the plot points are predictable, yes, but I didn't really hold that against "Our Family Wedding." I at least had a better time than I've had at most real weddings.
Our Family Wedding is a grim prospect on its face: a frantic wedding movie meets an uproarious culture clash movie, where two patriarchs - the smooth African-American and the fiery Latino - do hilarious battle and then there's some romance somewhere.
Forest Whittaker and Carlos Mencia play the fathers of young lovers Marcus and Lucia (Lance Gross and America Ferrera) who return home to L.A. to announce their surprise engagement and plans to be married immediately.
Things get complicated, when we learn that Lucia's family don't really like black people, and Marcus' father, a neat-freak radio DJ-cum-ladies'-man, doesn't like Mexican people.
Predicaments predictably follow, in the proper order and to factory specifications.Despite a legitimately (for the most part) talented cast and a set-up almost guaranteed to be worth at least a few forced laughs, the film manages to be almost completely devoid of humour.
To offer a thin-gruel compromise to your audience, to say "here's a trite, rote ethnicity-clash wedding comedy that you know will be derivative but what else are you going to watch come on it can't be terrible" and then to hand them something terrible is just...
To ask us to watch Carlos Mencia flail his way through a grim, graceless Mr. Hulot-inspired bit of non-comedy is mean, and makes us feel badly about ourselves and the choices that brought us here.One bright spot: Anjelah Johnson as the tomboy sister of the bride is the only actor in the film that's able to wring a couple of laughs out of it, and the sisters' relationship is one of the only interesting things in a film that's otherwise not much more than a grim procession of joyless clichés.
very very similar to movies like Father of the Bride.
It starts from the beginning as Lucia's dad, Miguel, whom tows trucks, picks up Marcus's dads, Brad, car to impound.
with this movie its like im having a deja vu, and also very very predictable, nothing new or cool about it.
we have seen the whole different culture uniting kinda thing, seriously we get the point no need to repeat it a hundred times.while i was watching this, i was already imagining the ending and with no surprise it turned out exactly the way imagined it, thats how predictable it is.
"Our Family Wedding" has some good actors and two great actors, Forest Whitaker and America Ferrera, but a horrible script.
A young interracial couple travel back home to tell their families they're getting married and to plan a quick wedding.
Their fathers, their cultures and their families clash.
This is just rehashed material and no better than a poor man's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner".They were going for laughs, and although I did laugh-out-loud in a few scenes, most of the lines were just rude, and all of the characters, especially Whitaker's, were just being insubordinate.
Even if they were going for drama instead, there is no sense of drama just from watching characters act in horrible ways because the script tells them to.
I can't really recommend "Our Family Wedding", only possibly to die-hard fans of the genre and fans of America Ferrera.
Will love conquer all when a young couple from different backgrounds decide to marry?.
THAT film was called "All About Steve." This one was in some ways a standard rom-com and yes,there were similarities to other films from "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" to "Meet the Fockers." But I find that all rom-coms have elements in common,so what's the big deal?
The big deal is that this film involves a mixed race couple where neither one is white,in fact the girl is Mexican-American and the boy is African-American,both college educated and from families that are not poor.
I enjoyed this film because ,in spite of the normal conventions of its genre,it showed people of color as normal families dealing with a situation they may not like,but having to find a way to come together for the ones they love..
For anyone who has had a marriage, or dating relationship, is cultural clashes this is a movie you can relate to.
Although the audience reach of this movie isn't very big, nor is it a blockbuster by any standards, is it a FUN little film and shouldn't be looked over if you are in a relationship where each others families have culture clashing..
Clearly, this films subject matter prevents far too many from enjoying a simple comedy by feeling like they must dissect this inter-racial plot into being something it is not.
Despite it being based on a storyline that have been used numerous times in Hollywood already, "Our Family Wedding" was still entertaining to watch.The story is about Lucia Ramirez (played by America Ferrera) and Marcus Boys (played by Lance Gross) planning to get married.
They are of different ethnicity which of course is the base for a lot of hilarious moments throughout the movie.
Again, lots of fun comes from this.The cast in "Our Family Wedding" is quite good.
However, the ones that made it worthwhile was Forest Whitaker (playing Brad Boyd; Marcus's father) and Carlos Mencia (playing Miguel Ramirez; Lucia's father) as they struggled to deal with each other and the differences in culture."Our Family Wedding" is a romantic comedy in every sense, because of the story and the laughs.
But there is more depth to the movie, as it deals with the cultural differences and how to overcome them.
I liked that aspect of the movie as well, and it did cause some good laughs.
Despite it being a storyline that has been seen over and over, "Our Family Wedding" still managed to come out as a good result.If you like romantic comedies, then you should definitely check out "Our Family Wedding" because it is actually quite good..
But let's not forget to remember the laughter and fun of great family movies from the past era.
Our family Wedding is forever a Movie mood when you need it🥂🎩👑🥂.
Our Family Wedding is a race based culture clash comedy that starts out rather awkwardly.Lucia Ramirez (America Ferrera) and Marcus Boys (Lance Gross) have been going out together for some time but have never told their parents about each other.She is Hispanic, he is black.
As the film starts there is an altercation when a black radio host (Forest Whitaker) as his car towed away by Carlos (Miguel Ramirez) leading to some racial slurs.
You guessed it they are the dads and sparks fly when they later meet each other again.You know where this film is going, it is a little like Meet the Parents but not as amusing.
Marcus Boyd (Lance Gross) and Lucia Ramirez (America Ferrera) are going home to announce their engagement to marry.
Marcus' father Brad (Forest Whitaker) is a divorced radio personality.
They announce their wedding in front of both families during dinner but Miguel just tow Brad's car.
It's a clash of cultures as the fathers compete.The biggest problem is Forest Whitaker.
I don't know why it just got low rating in IMDb. For me, this movie is a quite interesting and tells us about getting-married story.
They came from two different race and that makes both of their father don't like that.
Luci and Marcus tried so many ways to convince their fathers that they are really want to get married.
There were so much problem happening that made both of them finally face a crucial condition that made them wants to stop the marriage plan.This movie tells me the real thing that really happens often in life.
People who are getting married often feel not ready just before the wedding day.
In addition to that white wedding stereotype, the African American and Mexican American families in this comedy also vocalize their objections–not bottle them up for later, in private– particularly the fathers.For Lucia (America Ferrera) and Marcus (Lance Gross), getting engaged was the easy part.
Choosing the engagement dinner to introduce the households, Lucia and Marcus are unpleasantly surprised to discover their fathers (Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia) are already familiar with each other due to a prior disagreement.With both families forced to compromise their traditions in order to accommodate the other, the fathers participant in a game of one-upmanship, which later finds them in hot water with their significant others.Slovenly assembled, this gross-out rom-com is too preoccupied with the warring patriarchs to bother with character development or comedy.As for ethnic neutrality and dealing with objections during your interracial marriage ceremony: hire an albino priest and say your vows in Esperanto.
OUR FAMILY WEDDING STARRING: Forrest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Carlos Mencia, Lance Gross, Regina King, Diana-Maria Riva, Lupe Ontiveros, Anjelah N.
With insults flying and tempers running high, it's anyone's guess if the alpha dads (Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia) will survive to make it down the aisle in one piece.
With only weeks to plan their wedding, Lucia and Marcus soon discover the true meaning of love and find there is truth to the saying - that when you marry someone, you marry their entire family.
The basic plot of the story is pretty standard; a young couple fall in love and their parents do not like each other at all.
However, with this movie there is the added element of relations between Latin and African American cultures.
However, the great part of the movie is that the families find a way to have a great wedding after all this craziness.
Great Film About Issues Between Two Different Cultures.
I thought this was a great film and I don't see why gregeichelberger was so concerned with WHITE people.
Now that does not mean that this film cannot be enjoyed by White people, but this film concerns race relations between two cultures that have had issues over the years.
Either way, please do not take his review as the gospel truth.The basic plot of the story is pretty standard; a young couple fall in love and their parents do not like each other at all.
However, with this film there is the added element of race relations between Latin and African American cultures.
If you know Spanish you will definitely get more of a laugh out of this film.Throughout the beginning of the movie young couple sort of roll with the punches as their families clamor to claim what aspects of what culture will be represented in the weeding.
As the film progresses the couple goes through adversity based on their families craziness, but they find a way through it with some touching scenes.More importantly the two families begin to work to gather to plan the weeding and make sure both cultures feel respected and included in the weeding.
There is even a scene where Lucia's gangster cousin teaches Marcus how to do a little dance.I think the basic point of the movie escaped gregeichelberger completely and this may be an important point for anyone interested in watching this film.
The two families actually have a laugh together when they realize how crazy things have become over the weeding.
At this point they actually bonded and place their difference aside for the young couple.
They come to a realization that Marcus and Lucia love each other and that is something that family has to respect no matter how crazy they are.I guess to sum it up, this film will appeal to you if you are not African-American, Latino or aware of the issues between these two communities because it has humor and heart.
However, I do think it is important to understand that this film address issues between these two communities and makes a point to illustrate the issues in a blunt and realistic way, while being humorous at the same time.
Like a terrible version of "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" blended with "The In-Laws," "Father of the Bride," "Grand Canyon" and "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding," this newest effort by director Rick Famuyiwa (who has helmed such masterpieces as "Brown Sugar," "The Wood" and "Blacktop Lingo," among others), is one of the worst films of the year - so far.It also does for goats what "The Love Guru" did for elephants - burns a vision of those beasts in one's retinas that can never, ever be erased.Instead of blacks and whites coming together after fighting each other throughout the movie (and then reconciling in the end), we get blacks and Hispanics going at each others throats for almost 100 minutes with no relief or comedic situations to speak of, and certainly no satisfying resolution, one way or another.Plot has ultra-wealthy Marcus (Lance Gross, part of the Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" clan), son of Brad Boyd (Forrest Whittaker, Oscar-winner for "Last King Of Scotland"), who falls in love with Lucia Ramirez (America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"), the salt-of-the-earth daughter of a tow-truck driver, Miguel (stand-up comedian Carlos Mencia, of Comedy Central fame).One day, Miguel has to haul away Boyd's Rolls-Royce which is parked illegally or something like that.
Get used to this, folks.Like every other film (and television sit-com) of this ilk, the befuddled young couple is excited to spring the big news, but something always spoils it.
Here, the setting is a fancy restaurant where Boyd and Ramirez fire more racial insults at one another and forbid the marriage.Rest of film consists of young couple trying to mend fences while various oft-used situations take place (elderly Latina grandmother falls over when she sees Marcus is black, sensible mothers try to reign in husbands' bigotry and stupidity, extended families meet to discuss wildly divergent wedding preparations, sappy talk between father and daughter, a wedding cake fight and some kind of sports or civic event - here it's an amazingly unfunny softball contest in which the two dads, of course, face off against one another).Do the nuptials take place?
Ask Cuba Gooding, Jr. Gross and Ferrera are typical young leads, boring and insignificant, while only Marcus' mom, Regina King ("Ray") comes anywhere near a halfway decent effort.So, if one likes watching people of different races and ethnicities screaming at one another, another movie in which men are made out to be total idiots, bigoted and racist material being bandied about (imagine if one of the leads was a WHITE person) and a goat with an erection (don't ask), then by all means, shell out 10 bucks to see this movie, you won't be sorry at all..
For the entire movie, it felt like even the actors did not want to be there, and I cannot say that I blame them one bit.
Even the potentially hilarious scenes like the goat one can't make you do more than "ah." I found myself wondering when the fun part was about to start, until I realised I was already half way in the movie.
Honestly, I was just making a review today about how the film industry needs a fresh take on things, something different, and this movie is it.
But I was cheering on Lucia (America Ferrera, love that girl) and Marcus (Lance Gross) the whole time.Just do it, watch this movie!
They actually seem like a real family.
The film starts out with Lucia (America Ferarra) and Marcus (Lance Gross), a perfectly nice and seemingly happy engaged couple.
The only problem is Lucia did not tell her uptight dad named Miguel (Carlos Mencia).
Miguel, not knowing what he has done, he tows Marcus's dad, Brad (Forest Whitaker) car.
While the cast is likable, and sometimes brings the film out of it slum, putting the great acting of Forest Whitaker and the recycled jokes of Carlos Mencia is just stupid.
While it is funny at a couple of points watching the two fight, it's just tiring.
The film got me to laugh a couple times, but I wanted my two hours back.
Overall, Our Family Wedding is not worth your time or money because most of it is unfunny and wastes a talented cast, and you won't miss anything if you don't see it, so don't feel too bad if you miss it..
After all, America is a melting pot of Cultures and of different Ethnic groups of parents who'd migrated to this land of opportunity to better their families's lives.
Problems arise when young ones fall in love with each other from different Cultures, and than they have to bring their desire to marry each other to their families who each want to follow their own Cultural Path's to marry the young couple.
Here it is what lies at the heart of this story, which is about understanding, cooperating, respecting, and working together with each other's families while joining the young couple in their sanctity of holy matrimony, or simply put, getting hitched.
This movie had brought me a lot of laughter and serious issues to think about in terms of Race Relations and Tolarence for each other's Cultures!