The third film of the Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise is to hit cinemas worldwide on 8th September.
As the release date draws nearer, the excitement among fans has become palpable, reverberating through social media platforms with LGR playing ‘Opa’ of course, to mark the film event.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 official trailer released earlier in the year, teased a former Greek Eurovision entry.
The timeless Eurovision tune was a 2010 Eurovision Song Contest hit with Giorgos Alkaios and Friends, ‘Opa’, and ranked 8th in the music event. The tune could be described as a Greek-language up-tempo with the iconic, Pontiac Lyra instrument.
The catchy Greek number is a popular song with Eurovision fans, and 12 years later, is featured in trailer in the beloved franchise. The official club remix to this song, could be heard on London Greek Radio in recent weeks.
The architype Greek Eurovision song with its ethnic elements, is regarded as Greece’s strength and its super-asset, in Eurovision terms, particularly in the noughties and early 2010’s.
It is a fun song which in 2023 still sounds exciting. It is the ethnic banger, which stands the test of time.
The official trailer released earlier in the year, teased the fun-filled family reunion.
‘A lot has happened since my big fat Greek wedding…,’ Toula says in a voiceover. ‘My father passed away and his last wish was for us to visit his childhood village and reconnect with our roots, so we’re having a reunion.
‘And by we, I mean the whole family.’
As she greets several of her family members, she continues: ‘My father passed away and his last wish was for us to visit his childhood village and reconnect with our roots.’
After the family boards a plane to Greece, Thiea Voula, played by Andrea Martin, offers the group souvlaki, after which Nick Portakalos, portrayed by Louis Mandylor, asks: ‘Anybody by the name of Sue Vlaki on this flight?’
Toula’s daughter Paris, played by Elena Kampouris, then awkwardly encounters her prospective romantic partner Aristotle, portrayed by Elias Kacavas, and Thiea comments: ‘They had an amazing date. She ghosted him.’
Once the family lands in Greece, they are greeted by an eccentric cousin, who describes herself as ‘related through your pappou’s pappou, who was married to your great-yiayia’s sister’s sister-in-law.’
The family’s long-lost cousin then tells Toula that her deceased father’s friends will return to their hometown to participate in the family reunion, although when she is asked if she knows the group specifically, she dejectedly answers: ‘No.’
After the Portakalos family spends the night in the same room and are rudely woken up by a stray goat, Vardalos’ character remarks: ‘This is one reunion we’ll never forget.’
Thiea later goes out on a fishing trip and comments that ‘I am surprised, but I am not surprised, because I’m never surprised.’
Martin’s character later tells Paris that she ‘dreamt about Aristotle last night’ during a group dance, and after she is asked about how she found that out, Thiea quips: ‘Greek voodoo! Bam!’
When Toula tells her husband Ian, played by John Corbett, that she really wants to reconnect with her father’s friends, her sister Nikki and their Cousin Angelo, played by Gia Carides and Joey Fatone, rush off to complete the task.
After the Portakalosn family runs into the Mediterranean Sea, Nick, recognising Toula’s role in bringing the family back to their homeland, proclaims her to be the new ‘head of the family.’
Vardalos’ character then starts day-drinking with Thiea, and her husband becomes amused after she drunkenly struggles to hop on the back of a donkey.
The trailer ends after Ian encounters an old farmer who encourages him to pick one of her chickens to be slaughtered for dinner, and after he describes himself as a vegetarian, she flatly replies: ‘No.’
My Big Fat Greek Wedding became one of the most successful indie films of all time after its release, raking in $368.7 million (£302.2 million) worldwide, from just a $5 million budget (£4.1 million).
September 2023
Article written by London Greek Radio
