Bowen Yang's new movie will make you want to call your family.

The Wedding Banquet had all the potential to be that rare unicorn — a mainstream film that actually gets the nuances of cultural identity, family expectations, and queer relationships right. With the comedic brilliance of Bowen Yang and the dramatic prowess of Kelly Marie Tran and Lily Gladstone heading the cast, expectations were understandably high.

The film attempts to tackle intergenerational cultural acceptance, the complexities of chosen family, and the shadows of personal trauma — all wrapped in the promise of a fresh take on the classic "bringing your partner home" narrative.

Watch the trailer for The Wedding Banquet. Article continues after video.

Directed by Andrew Ahn, this modern take on Ang Lee's classic follows Min (the gorgeous Han Gi-chan), who's hiding his relationship with boyfriend Chris (comedy legend Bowen Yang) from his traditional Korean family. Their Seattle housemates Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and her partner Lee (Lily Gladstone) are desperately trying for a baby through IVF but struggling with the eye-watering costs. When Min's visa drama threatens his stay in the US, he proposes the ultimate solution: a green-card marriage to Angela with the bonus of funding her fertility journey.

But just when you think you've got it sorted, Angela and Chris have a drunken hookup after her hens night, and Min's Korean grandmother crashes the scene, insisting on a proper traditional wedding banquet! Cue the mad scramble to "straighten up" their queer household. It's a glorious, messy exploration of chosen family, cultural expectations, and the beautiful chaos of modern relationships that had me laughing and crying at times.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. The performances, the humour, the emotion, the complex issues it was tackling. I was there for all of it. But while parts of the film strike emotional gold, if I'm being honest, there are moments that felt underdeveloped.

Let's start with what works brilliantly. There are moments in this film that feel so authentically grounded in cultural reality that they'll leave you reaching for tissues. As someone who grew up Asian in Australia, so much of the turmoil these characters go through feels very truthful. The cultural and generational gaps. The yearning for connection but the inability to articulate your emotions. It feels truthful.

Image: Universal Pictures

The conversation between Min's grandmother and Chris stands out as one of the film's most powerful scenes. Though awkward and halting, this interaction speaks volumes about the generational and cultural divides being bridged. It's a masterclass in showing rather than telling, as Grandmother's simple effort to connect with Chris becomes one of the most meaningful gestures in the entire film.

Even more moving is when Min and his grandmother finally open up to each other. As she admires his quilts and offers her blessing for his life choices, there wasn't a dry eye in the cinema. Watching it, I could 100% imagine my own grandma approaching the conversation the exact same way. It's these intimate family moments that demonstrate what this film could have been throughout.

Kelly Marie Tran absolutely carries this movie. Her portrayal of her trauma and internal conflict is nothing short of exceptional. Every emotion flickers across her face with devastating clarity, making you feel her character's pain in your bones. THIS WOMAN SHOULD BE MUCH MORE FAMOUS. She's a star.

The few scenes that Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-jung — two bonfide legends in Asian cinema — shared were absolutely delightful. The kind of chemistry that makes you forget you're watching a film and not eavesdropping on an actual family drama. As Angela's mother and Min's grandmother, they perfectly embodied those well-meaning, well-intentioned elders who have done their best, but like anyone, sometimes get it wrong.

Image: Universal Pictures

Now for the not-so-good stuff.

For a film featuring comedic talent Bowen Yang, his character remains frustratingly undefined. We never truly understand Chris' resistance to marriage or what ultimately changes his mind. Where was the signature humour we've come to expect from Yang? The man who lights up every Saturday Night Live sketch is criminally underutilised, leaving us wondering if half his scenes ended up on the cutting room floor.

Then there's the cheating subplot between Chris and Angela, which comes completely out of nowhere. Big snooze! This unnecessary drama takes valuable screen time that could have been spent developing backstories or exploring the cultural complexities the film only hints at.

Image: Universal Pictures

Most jarring is how quickly everyone forgives this betrayal. In real life, cheating tends to have consequences that last longer than a commercial break, but The Wedding Banquet wraps this storyline up with a neat bow that feels both unearned and unrealistic. Like that's it??? Are we all supposed to collectively pretend that cheating isn't a big deal?

Overall, The Wedding Banquet is a film of beautiful moments surrounded by missed opportunities. When it focuses on the tender, complicated reality of cross-cultural and generational relationships, it soars. When it veers into underdeveloped subplots and rushed resolutions, it stumbles.

It's worth watching for some of the performances and those genuinely moving scenes — but prepare for some frustration at what, in my opinion, could have been a far more nuanced story.

Feature Image: Universal Pictures.