The Big Wedding Story Analysis: Plot Summary & Character Arcs
Deep dive into the narrative structure and emotional journey of The Big Wedding.
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2013, The Big Wedding is a Comedy film directed by Justin Zackham, written by Justin Zackham. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. It provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Robert De Niro as Don Griffin.
What Is the Story of The Big Wedding?
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long-divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin are forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son's wedding after his ultra conservative Catholic biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend. With all of the wedding guests looking on, the Griffins are hilariously forced to confront their past, present and future - and hopefully avoid killing each other in the process. The production finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks that reward attentive viewers.
How Is The Big Wedding Structured?
- Opening Hook: The Big Wedding's opening establishes the comedic tone through Robert De Niro as Don Griffin's interactions, introducing the central conflict with humor and character quirks that Justin Zackham layers throughout.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together the recurring threads, with Robert De Niro's storyline wrapping up predictably but entertainingly.