Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
Since the remake of Father of the Bride was so successful, it’s no shock that Hollywood made a sequel. However, there’s a big difference between Father of the Bride Part II and Father’s Little Dividend from 1951. Back in the 1950s, Hollywood never would have considered what happened in 1995! In this one, Kimberly Williams is pregnant, just as Elizabeth Taylor was pregnant, but instead of the mother being a supportive bystander, as Joan Bennett was, Diane Keaton is pregnant as well! She thinks she’s going through the change, but it turns out she and her hubby Steve Martin are in for another child at the same time as their first grandchild. Diane and Kim attend Lamaze classes, share food cravings, and exercise together.
From the child’s perspective, I would be really upset if my mom became pregnant at the same time as I did. I would want the wisdom and reassurance of my mother’s experience, not a partner in my suffering. And, given her age and the potential complications that could happen, I wouldn’t want to have to worry about her health at the same time I’m worrying about my own. From the mother’s perspective, I would want to give my daughter 200% of my attention during her first pregnancy and not be wrapped up in my own. When presented with my first grandchild, I wouldn’t want my energy to be sapped by my own baby. I would want to be a proper babysitter and help my daughter out.
If you think my arguments are silly and you think the premise of mother and daughter being pregnant at the same time is hilarious, you might like Father of the Bride Part II better than I did. I like Father’s Little Dividend better, because Joan Bennett was able to be a supportive grandmother to Elizabeth Taylor with no other distractions. Also, Spencer Tracy’s journey of accepting grandfatherhood was more interesting than Steve Martin’s. Steve had a distraction, worrying about taking on another child at that stage in his life, and wasn’t solely focused on kissing his youth goodbye.
More Steve Martin movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1951's Father's Little Dividend here!
From the child’s perspective, I would be really upset if my mom became pregnant at the same time as I did. I would want the wisdom and reassurance of my mother’s experience, not a partner in my suffering. And, given her age and the potential complications that could happen, I wouldn’t want to have to worry about her health at the same time I’m worrying about my own. From the mother’s perspective, I would want to give my daughter 200% of my attention during her first pregnancy and not be wrapped up in my own. When presented with my first grandchild, I wouldn’t want my energy to be sapped by my own baby. I would want to be a proper babysitter and help my daughter out.
If you think my arguments are silly and you think the premise of mother and daughter being pregnant at the same time is hilarious, you might like Father of the Bride Part II better than I did. I like Father’s Little Dividend better, because Joan Bennett was able to be a supportive grandmother to Elizabeth Taylor with no other distractions. Also, Spencer Tracy’s journey of accepting grandfatherhood was more interesting than Steve Martin’s. Steve had a distraction, worrying about taking on another child at that stage in his life, and wasn’t solely focused on kissing his youth goodbye.
More Steve Martin movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1951's Father's Little Dividend here!