Youn Yuh-jung’s new Hollywood comedy "The Wedding Banquet" has locked a Sept. 24 release in Korea and unveiled its teaser poster.
The film spins a madcap comedy of errors when a razor-sharp Korean grandmother sniffs out a sham wedding cooked up by two same-sex couples. After premiering at the 41st Sundance Film Festival, it took home the Amazon MGM Producers Award (Fiction) and sparked buzzy word of mouth with enthusiastic crowds.
During its April 18 North American bow, critics raved: “irresistibly charming” (The Hollywood Reporter), “a crowd-pleaser with a fresh twist on the classic rom-com” (Collider), and “a stylish, laugh-out-loud romp” (The Wrap).
Reuniting with a grandmother role after Minari, Youn plays Ja-young ― and the praise kept coming: “a presence that still commands the screen” (Variety) and “a performance that lets the ‘Korean grandmother’ truly shine” (The New York Times).
The newly dropped teaser poster winks at the mayhem ahead with the line “Two Couples, One Wedding?” and a striking image of Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) in a traditional Korean bridal hanbok and makeup, hinting at the whirlwind that a fake-ceremony scheme can unleash ― and teeing up a breezy, culture-clashing romantic comedy.
"The Wedding Banquet" is a contemporary remake of the 1993 title of the same name by master filmmaker Ang Lee, which won the Golden Bear at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival. Korean American director Andrew Ahn preserves the original’s heart while updating it for today and seamlessly weaving in Korean cultural beats. As projects like "KPop Demon Hunters" continue to fuel the global K-culture wave, this Hollywood reimagining offers another big-screen lens on Korean culture.
Revving up anticipation with an official invite to the 30th Busan International Film Festival ― and that fresh teaser poster ― "The Wedding Banquet" opens Sept. 24 exclusively at Lotte Cinema in Korea.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)