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JimBell Blog

Father of the Bride, Part II

Under discussion:

Father of the Bride II  (1995)
Father of the Bride, Part II (1995). The famous screenwriter and playwright, David Mamet, has a new book out (Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business) in which he gives some advice on script writing. The day I picked the book up from the library, I also started and stopped watching Father of the Bride, Part II. Let’s see if Mamet can explain why. Each scene must end with the hero thwarted in his goal and forced to go to the next scene to—hopefully—get what he wants. To write a successful scene, says David Mamet (who has written more than a couple of powerful screen plays), ask and apply the following three ancient questions:1. Who wants what from whom?2. What happens if they don’t get it?3. Why now?Your inclination will be to avoid confronting these questions, saying instead that your scene is interesting, or heartfelt, or funny, or whatever. But when you come late to a watching a movie with a friend, you’ll ask, “Who’s that? What’s happening?” and his answer will include, “Such and such happened, now this is happening, and next maybe . . .”.  Although these three magic questions are not known by many movie people and not used by a lot of screen writers, they are regularly put to good use by audiences.  Note how well David Mamet’s three ancient questions apply to Father of the Bride, Part II. The movie starts well with the father (Steve Martin) happy with life, until he finds out that his newly married daughter is pregnant. This sparks a mid-life crisis. He dies his hair, and he makes youthful love to his wife (Diane Keaton)—although she draws the line at him getting a Harley motorcycle. 1. Who wants what from whom? Dad wants his youth back, and he wants his wife to go along with his quest.2. What happens if they don’t get it? We don’t know. This is a comedy, so it’s no big deal. Probably there will be chaos either way.3. Why now? His daughter made him a grandfather, and he did not like it. Pretty good start, but his happens next. He puts the leaky house up for sale with the vague notions of moving to a condo on the beach. The house sells with an unexpectedly quick possession date, so he and his wife house sit for the in-laws who go on a Caribbean cruise.1. Who wants what from whom? Not a clue! I’m not even sure they are on their way to a beach-front condo. There seems to be no plan or goal, and his wife seems to just tag along.2. What happens if they don’t get it? Not a clue! I’d have to ask, “Get what?”

3. Why now? Their house sold fast and they did not arrange a new place, so they are stuck. Fortunately, they can house sit. But what this has to do with the father having a mid-life crisis, I have no idea. It seems like the movie has wandered off track. I’m now asking questions like why is the in-law kissing his dogs? Do I have enough time to waste on this movie?

Jim Bell

posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 1:29 AM by JimBell


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