Home/Episodes/Father of the Bride
‘Father of the Bride’ With Bill Simmons and Amanda Dobbins
December 22, 2021 · Father of the Bride (1991) · Comedy · Family · Romance · 1:31:28 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Half-Assed Internet Research
Amanda DobbinsNancy Meyers aesthetic evolution from Baby Boom through Father of the Bride; house exteriors vs interior sets in Pasadena; Meyers' focus on architecture in her films; generational perspective on Elizabeth Taylor and remake anxiety▶ 20:02
Bill SimmonsSteve Martin had no kids when making the movie but was America's dad; Nancy Meyers-Keaton collaborations; $20 million budget made $120 million; Roger Ebert gave three stars; Elizabeth Taylor hangover affecting 1991 remake reception▶ 19:08
Most Rewatchable Scene
Amanda DobbinsAgrees with both scenes mentioned by SPEAKER_00, particularly praising the opening monologue and the wedding announcement scene▶ 27:54
What's Aged the Worst
Amanda DobbinsMartin Short's accent gag - the whole running joke about not understanding his accent is no longer comedy in 2021▶ 54:03
Bill SimmonsThe falling in the pool scene - finds it hacky, gimmicky and too unrealistic compared to the rest of the movie▶ 52:46
Casting What-Ifs
Amanda DobbinsPhoebe Cates — Comments that Phoebe Cates being pregnant could have worked in the movie but would make it more scandalous than intended, and notes it was lucky Disney got Diane Keaton anyway▶ 56:16
Bill SimmonsPhoebe Cates — Discusses Steve Martin was cast before screenplay was written, Phoebe Cates was offered Annie Banks role but turned it down due to pregnancy, and Diane Keaton had to be fought for by writers against Disney's wishes▶ 55:41
Apex Mountain
Amanda DobbinsSteve Martin — Steve Martin - agrees on mainstream Steve Martin apex mountain; Wedding movies - agrees, noting it started the 90s explosion of wedding movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Wedding Planner, Wedding Singer▶ 1:04:06
Bill SimmonsSteve Martin — Steve Martin - mainstream Steve Martin apex mountain; Diane Keaton - no, apex was Annie Hall; Kimberly Williams - yes; Father-daughter movies - yes; Nancy Meyers - no; San Marino - 100% yes; Wedding movies - yes, it's the wedding movie apex▶ 1:03:44
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Amanda DobbinsAge gap is viable if mother had first child at 22, wedding should have been canceled due to LA residents' reaction to snow, fake snow staging looks unrealistic▶ 1:15:15
Bill Simmons14-year age gap between sisters is unrealistic, snow in LA that doesn't cancel the wedding, muddy yard conditions after snow melts, and cramming 200 people into the house▶ 1:15:11
What's Aged the Best
Amanda DobbinsThe wedding tent and setup - mentions it could look tacky like a late 80s wedding but actually looks nice▶ 1:18:14
Who Won the Movie
Amanda DobbinsNancy Meyers — Acknowledges Steve Martin but suggests Nancy Meyers could be considered since this is when it all comes together for her▶ 1:29:23
Movies Referenced (24)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:53 |
| Annie Hall (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:54 |
| Blade Runner (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:32 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:05:55 |
| It's Complicated (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 20:08 |
| Mother of the Bride (2024) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 29:48 |
| My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:14:35 |
| The Father (2020) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 23:54 |
| The Godfather (1972) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:05:29 |
| Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:01 |
| Fight Club (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 42:22 |
| Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:05:35 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Clooney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | The Ides of March, Michael Clayton | ▶ 1:01:12 |
| Ron Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 15:01 |
| Woody Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Annie Hall | ▶ 19:54 |
Actors Referenced (34)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Martin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 58 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | The Jerk | ▶ 1:33 |
| Diane Keaton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 30 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Annie Hall, Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 1:40 |
| BD Wong | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Jurassic Park, Jurassic World | ▶ 54:45 |
| Elizabeth Taylor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 3:04 | |
| Kieran Culkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | A Real Pain | ▶ 38:57 |
| Martin Short | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | Inherent Vice | ▶ 1:40 |
| George Newbern | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Adventures in Babysitting | ▶ 58:44 |
| Spencer Tracy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | ▶ 3:04 |
| Brad Paisley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Cars 3, Cars 2 | ▶ 41:38 |
| Demi Moore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Striptease, Indecent Proposal | ▶ 56:45 |
| Brenda Denmark | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | Keeping the Faith | ▶ 1:10:23 |
| Paul Simon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | The Graduate | ▶ 34:15 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Meyers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin | ▶ 3:55 |
| Jeffrey Katzenberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Shrek, Just Like Heaven | ▶ 57:08 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 24:37 | |
| Lorne Michaels | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:22 |