My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 2016
Directed by
Kirk Jones
Made by
Universal Pictures
Plot Summary
Discover the intricate plot of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.
Toula Portokalos-Miller’s life is currently in disarray. The recession has caused her travel agency and the family dry cleaners to shut down, leaving only her father Gus’s family restaurant still operational. Meanwhile, her husband, Ian, serves as the principal at their teenage daughter Paris’s high school.
Feeling overwhelmed by her overbearing family, Paris is applying to colleges across the country, yearning for independence and privacy from her tightly-knit clan, who can’t seem to stop meddling in her life. The strain in Ian and Toula’s marriage is palpable as Toula’s relentless fixation on managing Paris’s life increasingly drives a wedge between them.
Adding to the familial chaos, Gus is convinced of his descent from Alexander the Great and plans to write to an online ancestry site for verification. However, while going through his records, he uncovers a surprising detail: his marriage certificate with Maria was never signed by the priest, rendering their union technically invalid. Although the current priest cannot sign it, he offers to conduct a new ceremony. Gus insists that they should remarry after fifty years, but Maria has her own expectations and wants a proper proposal first. In a fit of anger, she refuses to go through with the ceremony when Gus declines to propose properly.
During a date night meant to revive their romance, Toula and Ian are caught by family members makes out in their car, adding to their troubles. When Gus winds up in the hospital, Maria initially hesitates to go, declaring she is not his wife. In desperation, Gus asks Maria to remarry him, and this time she agrees.
Maria is determined to have the wedding she never experienced, so she hires a wedding planner, but that plan goes awry when the planner leaves due to the family’s outrageous demands. With everyone involved, including Ian’s parents, Rodney and Harriet, plus Angelo’s business partner Patrick, they all rally together to make the wedding happen. Meanwhile, Nick encourages Angelo to inform his parents, Voula and Taki, of his relationship with Patrick. To the family’s surprise, Gus’s estranged brother, Panos, shows up from Greece.
Paris receives acceptance letters from Northwestern University in Chicago and NYU in New York City. Ultimately, she decides on Northwestern to please her mother, but her great-grandmother persuades her to think about New York. Excited, Paris asks Bennett—a boy she has a crush on—to the prom. Coincidentally, he also hails from a Greek family with its fair share of eccentricities. With the prom coinciding with the wedding, Toula makes a deal with Paris that she can attend the prom if she makes it to the wedding reception after.
On their way to the church, Gus, Panos, and Taki show up intoxicated, much to the frustration of Maria, who retreats to the vestry, feeling her husband is not taking the event seriously. During the ceremony, Panos reveals that Gus professed his love for Maria, allowing it to continue despite the initial chaos. While Gus and Maria celebrate their renewed vows, Ian and Toula quietly reaffirm their commitment to one another. At the prom, Paris and Bennett share a romantic first kiss as they slow dance.
The wedding reception wraps up with Gus reading a letter that validates his ancestry claim of being a descendant of Alexander the Great. However, Ian soon realizes that Toula had forged the letter to delight her father. The film concludes with the entire family helping Paris settle into her college dorm in New York.
Timeline
Track the key events of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.
Toula's Life in Disarray
Toula Portokalos-Miller struggles to cope with the fallout from a severe recession that forces her travel agency and the family dry cleaners to close. The only thriving business left is her father Gus's family restaurant, adding to the tension in Toula's life as she tries to keep her family afloat.
Paris's College Aspirations
Feeling overwhelmed by her overbearing family, Paris takes a decisive step toward independence by applying to colleges across the country. Her efforts are driven by a longing for privacy and the desire to escape the constant meddling from her tightly-knit clan.
Strain in Marriage
The relationship between Toula and Ian begins to show signs of strain as Toula becomes more fixated on managing Paris's life. The growing tension creates a palpable rift as they both struggle to communicate effectively.
Gus's Ancestry Quest
Gus becomes convinced that he is a descendant of Alexander the Great and decides to write to an online ancestry site for verification. However, during his research, Gus discovers that his marriage certificate with Maria was never signed by the priest, creating a new layer of family complexity.
Plans to Remarry
With the discovery of their invalid marriage certificate, Gus insists that he and Maria should remarry after fifty years. However, Maria demands a proper proposal first, leading to tensions that nearly derail their plans.
Night Out Turns Awry
During a date night meant to rekindle their romance, Toula and Ian are caught by family members kissing in their car. This embarrassing moment only adds to the mounting stress in their already challenged marriage.
Gus's Hospitalization
When Gus is hospitalized, Maria initially wrestles with the reality of their relationship, refusing to visit him because she feels she is not his wife. It is only after Gus's heartfelt plea for her to remarry him that she begins to reconsider.
Wedding Planning Chaos
Determined to have the wedding of her dreams, Maria hires a wedding planner, only for the plan to fall apart due to the family's outrageous demands. With everyone involved, a collective effort emerges to make the wedding a success despite the chaos.
Panos's Unexpected Arrival
The family is taken by surprise when Gus's estranged brother, Panos, arrives from Greece. His unexpected presence adds a mix of excitement and confusion to the wedding preparations.
Paris's Prom Invitation
Paris receives acceptance letters from Northwestern University and NYU, but ultimately decides to attend Northwestern to please her mother. In a brave move, she invites Bennett, a boy from a similarly eccentric Greek family, to the prom, creating a new romantic avenue.
Compromise on the Wedding Day
As the day of the wedding unfolds, Toula makes a deal with Paris, allowing her to attend the prom if she makes it to the wedding reception afterward. This agreement reinforces the bond between mother and daughter on a pivotal day for both.
Wedding Day Mishaps
On the way to the church, Gus, Panos, and Taki arrive intoxicated, leading to Maria's frustration as she retreats to the vestry. This adds to the chaotic atmosphere as the couple tries to gain control of their special day.
Vow Renewal Ceremony
During the ceremony, Gus surprises everyone by professing his renewed love for Maria, leading to a touching moment as they exchange vows once again. Meanwhile, Ian and Toula reaffirm their commitment to each other during the occasion.
Paris’s First Kiss
At the prom, Paris and Bennett share a romantic first kiss while dancing together. This moment of young love adds a sweet contrast to the day’s earlier chaos and symbolizes Paris's coming of age.
Family Bonding at College Move-In
The film concludes with the entire family rallying together to help Paris settle into her college dorm in New York. This moment encapsulates the enduring love and support within the chaotic yet loving family structure.
Characters
Meet the characters that bring My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.
Toula Portokalos-Miller
Toula is a devoted mother trying to juggle her family responsibilities while dealing with her own insecurities and the strain in her marriage. Her character showcases resilience and determination as she navigates the challenges of family life and seeks to support her daughter’s aspirations.
Ian Miller
Ian is Toula's supportive husband who handles the role of a principal while trying to maintain peace amidst the chaos of Toula's family. He exhibits patience and humor but also struggles with the intensity of Greek family traditions and their impact on his marriage.
Maria Portokalos
Maria is a traditional matriarch who desires the wedding she never had, which showcases her strong will and deep-rooted cultural values. Her expectations and reactions weigh heavily on the family as she tries to express her love amid the family chaos.
Gus Portokalos
Gus is the humorous father figure who believes he's a descendant of Alexander the Great, adding a comic relief to the family's dilemmas. His quest to validate his heritage intertwines with the main plot and showcases his endearing, albeit quirky personality.
Paris Miller
Paris is a teenage girl balancing the pressures of college applications and family expectations. Her desire for independence and her romantic interests highlight the generational gap and the desire for self-identity within a closely-knit family.
Setting
Uncover the settings of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.
Time period
The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern family issues, the challenges of college admissions, and the cultural expectations of Greek traditions as they intersect with American life.
Location
Chicago, New York City, Greece
The movie takes place in vibrant cities like Chicago and New York City, representing both the personal aspirations and the rich cultural heritage of the Portokalos family. Greece is also significant, as it represents the ancestral roots and traditions that heavily influence the family's dynamics and events.
Themes
Explore the core themes of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.
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Family
The theme of family is central to the story, as the film explores the close-knit dynamics and comical chaos associated with family gatherings. It highlights the love, misunderstandings, and pressure that come from familial expectations, particularly during significant life events like weddings and graduations.
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Marriage
Marriage is another core theme, not only through the lens of Gus and Maria's struggles to reaffirm their vows but also through the younger generation's relationships. It captures the importance of tradition, commitment, and the challenges that come with maintaining a romantic relationship amidst family pressures.
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Independence
The quest for independence is embodied in Paris's journey as she applies to colleges and navigates her relationship with her family. As she seeks to carve out her identity outside the shadow of her family's strong influence, the theme underscores the tensions between personal aspirations and familial obligations.
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