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‘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

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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
Bill SimmonsThe opening monologue and Annie tells them she's getting married scene▶ 27:28

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 CatesComments 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 CatesDiscusses 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

Joey Pants Award

Dion Waiters Award

Apex Mountain

Amanda DobbinsSteve MartinSteve 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 MartinSteve 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 MeyersAcknowledges 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)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons▶ 14:53
Annie Hall (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 19:54
Blade Runner (1982)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 9:32
Fargo (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:55
It's Complicated (2009)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Amanda Dobbins▶ 20:08
Mother of the Bride (2024)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Amanda Dobbins▶ 29:48
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:35
The Father (2020)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Amanda Dobbins▶ 23:54
The Godfather (1972)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:05:29
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 14:01
Fight Club (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 42:22
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:05:35

Directors Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
George ClooneyIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsThe Ides of March, Michael Clayton▶ 1:01:12
Ron HowardIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsA Beautiful Mind▶ 15:01
Woody AllenIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsAnnie Hall▶ 19:54

Actors Referenced (34)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Steve MartinIMDb ↗Lb ↗58Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsThe Jerk▶ 1:33
Diane KeatonIMDb ↗Lb ↗30Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsAnnie Hall, Something's Gotta Give▶ 1:40
BD WongIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsJurassic Park, Jurassic World▶ 54:45
Elizabeth TaylorIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 3:04
Kieran CulkinIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsA Real Pain▶ 38:57
Martin ShortIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill SimmonsInherent Vice▶ 1:40
George NewbernIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsAdventures in Babysitting▶ 58:44
Spencer TracyIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Amanda Dobbins, Bill SimmonsGuess Who's Coming to Dinner▶ 3:04
Brad PaisleyIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsCars 3, Cars 2▶ 41:38
Demi MooreIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsStriptease, Indecent Proposal▶ 56:45
Brenda DenmarkIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Amanda DobbinsKeeping the Faith▶ 1:10:23
Paul SimonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Amanda DobbinsThe Graduate▶ 34:15

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Nancy MeyersIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Bill Simmons, Amanda DobbinsIt's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin▶ 3:55
Jeffrey KatzenbergIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsShrek, Just Like Heaven▶ 57:08
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 24:37
Lorne MichaelsIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 18:22