Parents can be oh so caring but at the same time oh so bothersome. They think they want the best for their kids but frequently they only want their kids to behave in a way that makes their own dreams come true. They keep on mentioning that their biggest joy would be a grandchild but what if their only son is gay without letting them know because he is hesitant to tell the truth in order not to disappoint them. If the parents live in a faraway country like Taiwan maybe the closing of an unconsummated marriage can be the solution, suggests the son's American boyfriend as this would also help the pretend wife with her green card problem. It then does not come as a surprise that the parents decide to come visit their son in NY City to get to know their future daughter-in-law.
This in short is the setting for a romantic comedy, that is still lovely while covering serious topics like homophobia, emigration, or the pressure to stick to the old traditions. I'd say it has the right balance between seriousness and comedy.
I don't think to say too much when revealing that the masquerade cannot be kept up for the whole 4 weeks of the parents' stay. It is quite fun to watch the crumbling of it and it is interesting to see the reactions of the people involved.
In the end, even the grandchild wish can be served thanks to a big wedding ceremony with lots of alcohol involved, both unwanted by the bridal couple. This may sound a bit cheesy but somehow director Ang Lee manages it to keep the happy end on a tolerable level.
Also be aware that great parts of the conversations are in Chinese with subtitles. Even though this supports the respectability of the movie I still found it a bit annoying after a while, but this clearly is a matter of taste.
This in short is the setting for a romantic comedy, that is still lovely while covering serious topics like homophobia, emigration, or the pressure to stick to the old traditions. I'd say it has the right balance between seriousness and comedy.
I don't think to say too much when revealing that the masquerade cannot be kept up for the whole 4 weeks of the parents' stay. It is quite fun to watch the crumbling of it and it is interesting to see the reactions of the people involved.
In the end, even the grandchild wish can be served thanks to a big wedding ceremony with lots of alcohol involved, both unwanted by the bridal couple. This may sound a bit cheesy but somehow director Ang Lee manages it to keep the happy end on a tolerable level.
Also be aware that great parts of the conversations are in Chinese with subtitles. Even though this supports the respectability of the movie I still found it a bit annoying after a while, but this clearly is a matter of taste.