The Wedding Banquet
In my over two decades working in television—and through creating and hosting Reppin, a podcast that explores race, gender, orientation, and the deeper personal journeys of identity and character—I’ve seen many stories attempt to unpack the complexities of culture, sexuality, and familial expectations. But few do it with the tenderness found in Andrew Ahn’s reimagining of The Wedding Banquet.
The original 1993 film by Ang Lee and James Schamus was a landmark in cinema. And I give Ahn enormous credit for having the guts to take on a project created by these masters. Ahn doesn’t try to remake it—instead, he brings the story into the present day with a modern sensibility while trying to honor the original.
So here’s the setup: the story centers around two couples and one very unconventional proposal. Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and her partner Lee (Lily Gladstone) have been struggling through a series of unsuccessful IVF treatments—and financially, they’re completely tapped out.
Their close friend Min (Han Gi-Chan) is closeted and is heir to a powerful corporate empire. He’s got the money—plenty of it—but his student visa is about to expire. Min has been in a relationship with Chris (Bowen Yang), who’s emotionally avoidant and unsure about commitment. When Min proposes and Chris turns him down, Min turns to Angela with a bold alternative: a green card marriage in exchange for funding Lee’s IVF.
Following so far? Good—because things only get even more complicated from here.
Min’s traditional, no-nonsense grandmother (played by the legendary Youn Yuh-Jung of Minari) arrives unannounced from Korea. What was supposed to be a “simple,” quiet arrangement quickly turns into a full-blown wedding extravaganza—thanks to Grandma’s demands. And from there, the story unfolds—chaos, comedy, and emotional reckonings all included.
This films has an amazing cast. Lily Gladstone, Oscar nominated and Golden Globe Winner for Killers of the Flower Moon, joins Emmy-nominated Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, and the iconic Youn Yuh-Jung in this incredible ensemble that spans generations and cultures.
The emotional honesty shared between key characters is what holds the film together. The scenes between Angela and her mother May (Joan Chen), and between Min and his grandmother (Youn Yuh-Jung), are especially powerful. These are the moments that feel grounded, heartfelt, and resonant. And I have to tell ya—when those quieter, more tender moments hit—they really land.
And having Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-Jung—two absolute icons—on screen is a gift. Their presence elevates every scene they’re in. Honestly, we must protect them at all costs! I just wish they had more screen time!
As someone who grew up rarely seeing faces like mine on screen, it’s incredible to witness a multicultural and multigenerational ensemble lead a major film like this. And to go one step further—to see this cast explore LGBTQ+ Asian identities with care, nuance, and heart—is not just meaningful. It’s monumental.
One of the film’s most refreshing surprises is how it portrays queerness within Asian families, especially across generations. The conversations between elders and their children aren’t built on tired tropes—there’s a real openness to them and the possibility of acceptance that was so refreshing. These scenes especially, encouraged thought and invited conversation. This kind of portrayal wasn’t even on the radar of mainstream media a decade ago. Seeing it now feels not just timely—but necessary.
But The Wedding Banquet isn’t only an LGBTQ+ story. It’s about the universal journey of becoming—of learning to accept ourselves and each other. It’s about challenging traditions that no longer serve us, navigating the weight of family expectations, struggling with relationships and finding the courage to live honestly in a world that often demands performance and pressures us to meet certain benchmarks.
I believe Ahn set out to create a space—for connection, for conversation and for empathy. He’s offering an invitation: to feel, to listen, and to rethink how we define love, identity, expectations and family.
The Wedding Banquet is a fully loaded film with talent, heart, family, acceptance and love. And it’s a reminder of the things we could all use more of these days, no matter who we are.
