After enjoying the huge success that was My Big Fat Greek Wedding back in 2002, and to a lesser extent, its 2016 sequel, I only recently saw the third entry in its Portokalos family saga.  I was surprised that a third movie was even made, pleased to learn that almost everybody with whom I was familiar has returned, and rather dejected that the result was as flat as it is.

Nia Vardalos (star, writer and director in this case) brings her Portokalos family to Greece after the death of the patriarch, so that she can meet his boyhood friends for a family reunion.  The entire clan makes the trip, their destination is unprepared and the friends are nowhere to be found.  But, hey, everybody is in Greece, where the weather is wonderful and magic is in the air.

The story premise is obvious and somewhat trite.  It is told in brief vignettes, sometimes seconds at a time, that illustrate the narrative but don’t provide much satisfaction.  A couple of silly subplots wind their way through the plot; one of them, the efforts of the cute Greek mayor Victory (Melina Kotselou) to facilitate the reunion, is quite charming.  But most of the movie is more frustrating than satisfying.

And then, near the end, the whole thing comes together quite nicely as the community of the nearly-deserted town, the old friends and the entire clan reunite in joy for a wedding and memorial.  Suddenly everything has meaning and impact.  It’s nice that it happens; it would have been nicer had things come together much earlier.  So instead of a lesser rating, the film gets a boost.  ☆ ☆ 1/2.  24 January 2026.