Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet (2025) is a heartfelt and beautifully realized reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic, exploring the complexities of modern queer relationships with a keen eye for cultural identity and chosen family. The original Wedding Banquet was a groundbreaking romantic comedy that depicted the struggles of a closeted bisexual Taiwanese immigrant caught between his love life and his traditional parents’ expectations. Ahn’s remake brings that same emotional core into the present, expanding its scope to include not one but two couples navigating love, commitment, and familial pressures. Additionally, the plot has now shifted to a world that is significantly more accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community, yet many political and societal struggles remain.
Writer-director Andrew Ahn, whose previous features Driveways (2019) and Fire Island (2022) showcased his ability to balance tender intimacy with humor, brings that same sensibility to this film. Although 2025’s The Wedding Banquet leans more into drama than comedy, the moments of levity still shine brightly. As critic Damon Wise aptly put it in their Deadline review, “You won’t cry laughing, but you may laugh crying.” The jokes, often subtle rather than broad, are effective. However, Ahn’s reimagining might have benefited from leaning more into its comedic elements to better balance the melodrama.
Four Friends, One Marriage
The Wedding Banquet revolves around four deeply nuanced characters, each dealing with different fears, desires, and insecurities. Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and her partner Lee (Lily Gladstone) are struggling with unsuccessful IVF treatments and lack the funds to continue. Meanwhile, their friend Min (Han Gi-Chan), a closeted heir to a multi-national empire, faces the expiration of his student visa. When his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris (Bowen Yang) turns down his marriage proposal, Min hatches an outrageous plan: a green card marriage to Angela in exchange for funding her and Lee’s expensive IVF treatments.
What should have been a relatively simple marriage arrangement is thrown into chaos when Min’s skeptical and stern grandmother, Ja-Young (played by Minari star and Oscar-winner Youn Yuh-jung), unexpectedly arrives in town. She’s got a plan of her own: turning this laid-back elopement into a lavish and extravagant Korean wedding banquet.
One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in its character work. Every member of the ensemble is fully realized and brings a new layer of complexity to the narrative, from the core four to Min’s grandmother to Angela’s own mother, May Chen, played by the elegant Joan Chen (Dìdi). A standout moment is a quiet yet powerful scene between Youn Yuh-jung and Chen, a testament to Andrew Ahn’s ability to find depth in even the most unexpected moments between two characters.
“Ahn’s remake stands as both a reflection of the present and a hopeful look toward the future.”
The script, written by Ahn and James Schamus (who co-wrote the original rom-com with Ang Lee, as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), also does a fantastic job of highlighting the generational differences in attitudes toward queerness and tradition. Chris and Angela’s dynamics, in particular, explore that latter notion. Unlike the rest of the cast, the two had an Americanized upbringing, leaving them to awkwardly navigate cultural customs they aren’t as familiar with.
Bowen Yang, best known for his larger-than-life comedic presence on Saturday Night Live, is finally given a platform to showcase his dramatic range. His portrayal of Chris is layered and deeply human, both frustrating and sympathetic in his struggle with commitment. South Korean actor Han Gi-Chan, in his first English-speaking role, is effortlessly charming as Min, bringing an infectious energy that carries the film’s momentum throughout.
Courtesy of Bleecker Street
Kelly Marie Tran (Raya and the Last Dragon, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) delivers one of her most moving performances to date, capturing Angela’s internal battle as she faces an uncertain future while still trying to heal wounds from her past. To balance these frustrations, Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon, Under the Bridge) serves as the quiet anchor of the group, as Lee, offering a steady presence that grounds the movie’s more chaotic moments.
Updating the Themes of Ang Lee’s Original Movie for a New Generation
Visually, The Wedding Banquet is built around the idea of home. Much of the film takes place within the intimate setting of Lee’s family house, where all four friends reside, reinforcing themes of chosen family and the meaning of belonging. Andrew Ahn’s direction is patient and deliberate, allowing the story’s emotions to build naturally rather than forcing dramatic beats. Ahn’s decision to revisit The Wedding Banquet is not merely about remaking a beloved queer rom-com but about updating its themes for a new generation.
Courtesy of Bleecker Street
With same-sex marriage now legal in the United States (though still heavily under threat), the question has shifted from “Can we get married?” to “Should we?” Beyond that, the even bigger question of “Should we have children?” has become more uncertain in these recent tumultuous times. The Wedding Banquet delicately explores these questions without providing easy answers, instead offering a portrait of modern queer life that acknowledges both progress and the challenges that remain.
“A vital queer narrative for today’s audiences.”
Some will find that the script’s melodrama outweighs its comedic elements, but it’s hard to argue against the sheer sincerity and emotional resonance of Andrew Ahn’s approach. The final moments of the movie are particularly moving, offering a beautifully poignant sequence that lingers long after the credits roll. The Wedding Banquet is a triumph — thoughtful, funny, and deeply affecting. It honors the legacy of Ang Lee’s original film while carving out its own space as a vital queer narrative for today’s audiences. In a landscape where LGBTQIA+ stories are constantly evolving, Ahn’s remake stands as both a reflection of the present and a hopeful look toward the future.
The Wedding Banquet premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and hits theaters on April 18!
Release Date: April 18, 2025.
Directed by Andrew Ahn.
Screenplay by Andrew Ahn & James Schamus.
Based on The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee, Neil Peng, & James Schamus.
Produced by Anita Gou, Joe Pirro, Caroline Clark, & James Schamus.
Executive Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Julie Goldstein, Sam Intili, Andrew Karpen, Shivani Rawat, & Kent Sanderson.
Main Cast: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, & Youn Yuh-jung.
Cinematographer: Ki Jin Kim.
Composer: Jay Wadley.
Production Companies: ShivHans Pictures, Kindred Spirit, & Symbolic Exchange.
Distributors: Bleecker Street (North America) & Universal Pictures (International).
Runtime: 103 minutes.
Rated R.
