30 Years Later, ‘The Father Of The Bride 2’ Feels So Off-Base About Your 40s
Three decades after its premiere, “The Father of the Bride 2” remains a tale of aging and mortality, gracefully intertwined with the nuptials of Annie Banks-MacKenzie. However, its perception of life beyond 40 feels antiquated: Annie’s struggle with her career, “BettyFord-itis,” and her husband’s disregard for her ambitions paint an unrelatable picture of midlife.
While the film’s humor still resonates, its depiction of women in their 40s as unfulfilled and anxious is far from the reality experienced by today’s women. Annie’s journey serves as a reminder of how societal expectations evolve, highlighting the need for more nuanced and empowering portrayals of women navigating midlife in the 21st century.