FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1991) / FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II (1995)

Dueling Genre Productions

SMALL TALK & BIG KITCHENS, our mini-series on the romcoms of Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers, continues with a look at a pair of heartwarming remakes about a father learning to let go of his adult daughter… by replacing her with a new one.

After a successful career throughout the 1980s, the filmmaking team of Nancy Meyers (co-writer/producer) and husband Charles Shyer (co-writer/director), known colloquially around town as “the Schmeyers”, were offered the opportunity to remake a classic Spencer Tracy comedy film that they both adored. Starring Steven Martin and Diane Keaton, 1991’s FATHER OF THE BRIDE was a big hit, and when it was time to make a sequel, Nancy was offered the chance to direct it herself.

Not wanting her directorial debut to fall under the shadow of her husband’s film, she opted instead to let Charles direct again while she would take on a much more creative role on the set of the sequel, especially in regards to set design and costuming, so that by the time 1995’s FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II was released, she knew that she would be ready to direct a movie of her own.

Join Nick & Scott as they discuss a pair of sweet family films that ultimately lead Nancy Meyers directly to the director’s chair.

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