Rita Wilson has made yet another cross-cultural wedding film entitled “ A Simple Wedding” but It is an Iranian girl Nousha (Tara Grammy) getting involved with an American bisexual Alex (Christopher O’Shea) and the Greeks are not involved in this film other than Rita Wilson as executive producer. Yes Nousha has two very traditional Iranian parents both intent, at least initially, in matching up Nousha with a successful and financially secure Iranian husband. It ain’t working.
Nousha’s father Reza (Houshang Touzie) is a successful engineer and they live in a mansion in Orange County, California. Touzie has a delightfully sarcastic side to him but terribly discrete.
Things get off the Iranian track when Nousha meets and falls for bisexual Alex a sometimes-employed DJ and artist. Nousha is a successful attorney. Sneaking behind her parent’s back she moves in with Alex. Then by a slip of the tongue they announce they are getting married but want a simple wedding which Nousha’s parents agree to have in their palatial backyard.
Well things get more complicated as Alex’s parents are divorced and his dad marries his gay partner and imagine explaining this to conservative Iranian parents over a meet and greet dinner? Rita Wilson plays Alex’s mother Maggie who loves her son and an occasional swig of tequila. She plays a sparkling vivacious woman terribly well.
Uncle Saman (Maz Jobrani) arrives for the wedding and again some excellent acting on Jobrani’s part playing a slightly eccentric but loveable bachelor with a very big heart.
The wedding day arrives and Nousha is having second thoughts and as she is dragged to the altar her dress catches fire and all ablaze (and without injury) she jumps into the pool. The wedding is cancelled.
In the meantime, Uncle Saman has fallen for Maggie and their wedding is in the backyard of Nousha’s parent’s home. At the reception Nousha assumes her spot-on Celine Dion impersonation to send a song of love to Alex. They are back in love.
Not very much creative about the film and you might want to call it my Big Fat Iranian Wedding. Nonetheless a slick and polished production worth a watch as there is nothing wrong with a chuckle now and then in these glum times. It will be available on DVD now.
You can catch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-93NbiO2X6k
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