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By Lana
K. Wilson-Combs | OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT
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(From left) Lance Gross, America
Ferrera, Regina King and Forest Whitaker star in "Our
Family Wedding."
Photo © Fox Searchlight / Scott
Garfield. |
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In the new romantic comedy, “Our Family
Wedding,” Forest Whitaker plays a controlling father
who is shocked when he learns his son Marcus (Lance Gross,
“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”) is getting
married.
Marcus (Gross) and his soon-to-be-bride Lucia (America Ferrera,
"Ugly Betty") have kept their engagement a secret
from their families for a long time. That’s because
Lucia, who’s Mexican American, is afraid of how her
mother Sonia Ramirez (Diana Maria Riva) and father, Miguel
(Carlos Mencia) will react to her marrying a Black guy (Gross).
It certainly isn’t going to sit well with them either
that Lucia has put her law school plans on hold to get married.
Marcus on the other hand, not only has his high profile radio
deejay father to answer to about his sudden announcement,
but a host of family members like his grandmother (Anna Maria
Horsford), his uncle Wendall (former football star Warren
Sapp), and even Marcus’ own friends (Charlie Murphy
and Taye Diggs). All of them are more than happy to give Marcus
their opinions about making such a big leap.
The drama kicks into high gear when Brad and Miguel meet
up again. An earlier car towing incident has left both of
these alpha males stewing at each other. Now their deep seated
issues are about to come to a head. They meet again - much
to their chagrin - when both families get together for the
first time over dinner at a restaurant and then later at Lucia’s
grandmother’s house which results in Momma Cecilia (Lupe
Ontiveros) fainting when she meets Marcus.
The voice of reason among this entire motley crew is Brad’s
friend and lawyer, Angela (Regina King, “Southland”).
Angela tries to talk some sense into everyone and make them
realize that Marcus and Lucia’s big day shouldn’t
be this chaotic and decisions should be left to them.
“Our Family Wedding” director Rick Famuyiwa (“Brown
Sugar” and “The Wood”) has developed a knack
for making funny, coming of age dramas. Here he trots out
plenty of high jinks but still manages to bring a touching
and warm-hearted tone against the backdrop of all the film’s
familial strife.
Famuyiwa, who also wrote the screenplay for “Our Family
Wedding,” gets the most from his good looking, star
studded cast. And seeing a generally serious actor like Whitaker
get in touch with his comedic side in a scene involving a
leg humping by a Viagra eating goat, is simply priceless.
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a Sacramento based syndicated
movie and entertainment
writer. You can read her movie reviews and celebrity interviews
each week at
SacObserver.com and on her Web site at www.N2Entertainment.net.
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