Father of the Bride Part II (1995)

Movie · 1995 · Comedy, Family · 1h 46m · PG · English

Curator score: 1.1/10 (45.6K ratings)

Just when his world is back to normal... he's in for the surprise of his life!

Overview

Just when George Banks has recovered from his daughter's wedding, he receives the news that she's pregnant ... and that George's wife is expecting too. He was planning on selling their home, but that's a plan that—like George—will have to change with the arrival of both a grandchild and a kid of his own.

Ratings

Director

Charles Shyer

Production

Touchstone Pictures, Sandollar Productions

Cast

Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, George Newbern, Kieran Culkin, BD Wong, Peter Michael Goetz, Kate McGregor-Stewart, Jane Adams, Eugene Levy, Rebecca Chambers, April Ortiz, Dulcy Rogers, Kathy Anthony, Adrian Canzoneri, Lori Alan, Stephanie Miller, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Jay Wolpert

Where to watch

Netflix, Disney Plus, TNT, tru TV, Netflix Standard with Ads

Curator Review

Verdict

A gentle, easygoing family comedy with a strong nostalgic glow and a few standout Martin Short scenes, but it mostly plays as comfort food rather than a must-see sequel. The humor is broad, the emotions are sincere, and the cast keeps it amiable even when the plot feels slight.

Best for

  • fans of warm, low-stakes family comedies
  • viewers who like Steve Martin and Diane Keaton’s domestic banter
  • people in the mood for a nostalgic 90s studio comedy
  • audiences who enjoy scene-stealing supporting performances

Skip if

  • you want sharp or high-concept comedy
  • you dislike sentimental, middle-class family stories
  • you need a sequel that feels bigger than the original
  • you’re not interested in pregnancy-and-parenthood farce

Overview

Father of the Bride Part II is the kind of sequel that survives on charm, chemistry, and a very forgiving mood. It doesn’t reinvent the setup, but it does find a pleasant rhythm in watching George Banks spiral through one more life change, this time with the added absurdity of becoming a father and grandfather at nearly the same moment.

Worth noting

Steve Martin keeps the movie grounded in exasperated tenderness, while Diane Keaton gives it warmth and calm. The real comic fireworks come from Martin Short, whose return injects the film with the kind of manic energy that makes the whole thing feel a little more alive than it otherwise would.

Bottom line

It’s not especially ambitious, and some of the jokes land more softly than they should, but the movie understands its audience: people who want a cozy, polished family comedy with just enough chaos to keep the sentiment from curdling. If you liked the first film, this is an easy, agreeable follow-up.

Top Letterboxd reviews

ana 🏳‍🌈 (3★) · 858 likes

the entire sequence with steve martin hooked on sleeping pills while martin short completely freaks out is PEAK COMEDY

McKLund (3.5★) · 671 likes

These movies feel like a warm hug

Cameron Young (3★) · 660 likes

"Am I the only one in this house who's a feminist?!" ---- Steve Martin

ZaraGwen (3★) · 488 likes

Needs more Martin Short

Gcars (3★) · 481 likes

pay more attention to kieran culkin!!!!!

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Topics

family comedy, sentimental, 90s studio comedy, domestic farce, warmhearted, generational humor, parenthood, ensemble chemistry, lighthearted, nostalgic

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