MovieChat Forums > Father of the Bride (1991) Discussion > What bothered me about Annie

What bothered me about Annie

posted 13 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (16722831)
12 replies | jump to latest

Now this is not a thread to flame about her but just going to point out things that bothered me about her character in this film.

She's set up to be this ultra independent, modern girl which is all good and fine but she also had no problem with her father paying for an overly extravagant wedding when she said initially she just wanted a small one. Wouldn't a super independent person try to do what they could to pay for their own wedding? Also, I think its rude of her part to act as if a woman lost her identity when she became married simply for changing her name. Her own mother changed her name and she was far from stupid or passive. Also, why the bleak view of marriage to begin with when her parents were good people who loved each other? It just seems really pretentious to me quite honestly. As for her accusing Brian of being sexist in the first one, and especially the second one was REALLY unfair. Did she really not trust the man she claimed to love so much, even after how many years of being married?

This is an awesome movie and I love watching it whenever its on despite the flaws of it. I will say I probably wouldn't like Annie if they didn't get such a likable actress for that part, not that I am ripping on her, just pointing out this that just bugged me is all.

[–] EMME30 13 years ago

I agree with you!

Other things bugged me.

#1 When I got married I made sure my Father was there before they started the Father/Daughter dance. Had he NOT been there I would have told them to stop the song. We were going to find him right away & I was going to dance with him! George goes through all of this stuff putting the wedding together & she never even sees him during the reception.

#2 I wouldn't have left without even seeing my Father! Who does that kind of thing?

#3 I would have been thrilled if my husband had bought me a blender. Shakes people! Yummy shakes!

#4 My parents paid the greatest portion for my wedding, but I paid extras for things that I WANTED not things that were NEEDED. I put plenty of money into my wedding & priced a ton of things so my parents wouldn't have to pay more than needed. This didn't seem to be done in this case.

#5 Why in the WORLD were the Banks' paying for Bryan's family's trip from overseas? You pay for the wedding NOT guests traveling expenses!

#6 Somehow it was more important for Frank to see Annie cutting her cake than for George to see it? (I know the parking scene with the boys was for comedy effect, but it just ticked me off!) Once again....no parents around...I'm not cutting my cake if my parents can't see it!

I know these things are little to some people, but it just all made Annie come off as uncaring & spoiled & I don't think the writers did the character justice in this way. Kimberly Williams did a wonderful job because I somehow still came away somewhat liking the character, but she certainly wasn't my favorite in the movie!

Go shake down the 7-11 for a day old wiener. Melvin- As Good as it Gets

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] justaudrey 13 years ago

I wondered about why she didn't wait for her father for the father/daughter dance, too. Maybe they didn't have one?

I also agree about the blender. I would be excited! Especially if it was a Vitamix or a Blendtec.

[–] monique79-1 13 years ago

Honestly though, it came across that Annie got lost in the shuffle, even though George hated spending the money and suggested a backyard BBQ, in reality he wanted the status quo for upper class people to have nice weddings. Her mom and Frank ran with everything.

What did bother me was the wedding, aside from what other's said, her wedding seemed very old. Her and Brian were in their 20's, yet, no 20 something music or that many 20 something friends. Her wedding would be one I'd attend for someone in their 40's or older.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] artistathome 13 years ago

Before you make all these complaints, remember this movie was a remake. The original script was very good, the movie was great and has been very popular ever since 1951 when it was made.

So they followed the original script pretty closely and in that one altho a college graduate "Kay" certainly was in NO position to pay for her own wedding.

Besides, having George Banks pay for everything gave him some control and made it funny because in both movies, they over spent. Exactly how was Annie going to pay for it? She wasn't even employed yet.

Again remember this is a remake not a new movie----it was re-made for 1990s viewers and they did update it a lot.
Annie seemed perfect in personality considering how she was raised and her parents!

[–] siobanphotogirl 11 years ago

Annie spouted ideals before meeting Brian.

In our teens we get high-minded, stubborn notions about things from the people around us and we like to seem smart and come off like we have a mind of our own about life. Maybe Annie was holding on to those ideals from her teens, ideas she might have gotten from friends or unmarried mentors or something.

Also we women might try to cover up the fact that we haven't found 'the one' yet. We might try to make it sound like it's something we don't want to cover up the fact we haven't found it yet. I use examples of bad situations I've heard of and use it to console myself and tell myself I'm better off. "Better left on the shelf than stuck in the wrong cupboard" my 'spinster' cousin said.

Maybe Annie knew someone who got married to a man who turned out to be that 'ape who wants her to wear go-go boots and an apron' and remain barefoot and pregnant instead of having the career she wanted.

[–] lovelula 11 years ago

loved this movie as a kid. now watching it as someone a little older (and in the middle of planning my wedding), i found annie incredibly frustrating. she was just so entitled, immature and annoying. she expected her family to be thrilled for a marriage without even having met the fiance, expected her father to pay for everything, 'breaking up' with her fiance because he bought her a blender, not making any effort to see dad during her wedding.. don't even get me started on the mother enabling all the craziness.

i also didnt understand how george and annie were so upset with her 'moving out'... presumably she had moved out for college, yes?

at 25 i doubt im old enough to be so grumpy, but it frustrated the hell out of me.

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[–] thesnowleopard 9 years ago

loved this movie as a kid. now watching it as someone a little older (and in the middle of planning my wedding), i found annie incredibly frustrating. she was just so entitled, immature and annoying. she expected her family to be thrilled for a marriage without even having met the fiance, expected her father to pay for everything, 'breaking up' with her fiance because he bought her a blender, not making any effort to see dad during her wedding.. don't even get me started on the mother enabling all the craziness.

This. The problem wasn't Annie's calendar age but that she had the emotional maturity of a teenager. She wasn't ready to get married. She wasn't even ready to go live on her own, pay her own bills, and have her own life. I think that was originally intended to be part of the joke in the script--that she was a child at the beginning of it all and grew up and beyond her father toward the end--but Annie's actual growth never happened. It got lost in all the madcap craziness about Dad's paranoia over losing her and the wedding industry satire. It made her seem like a spoiled brat, especially when she's having the big flounce over the blender, of all things.

And her mother wasn't any better. I like Diane Keaton in some things, but a little of that "zany" persona goes a very long way.

I've known people like Annie--and her mother. I don't think they ever grow up, to be honest. And marrying them can be a pretty unpleasant deal.

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[–] shadaif 9 years ago

Not everyone moves out of their parents house for college. It's actually rarely done in my area as the flagship university is only 20 minutes away with three smaller colleges and a community college nearby as well. My sister didn't move out of our house until after she married. I moved out because I desperately wanted to prove to myself that I could live independently before getting married.

"The end of the shoelace is called the...IT DOESN'T MATTER!"

[–] AngelCake56FJS 10 years ago

Yeah, looking at this movie as an adult there are things that really work my nerves. The parents seemed to be upper middle class but not wealthy yet she allowed them to pour all that money in the wedding. If my fiance's parents offered to chip in I'd take them up on the offer they're partly at fault for the cost of the wedding.

[–] patrickbohn 9 years ago

The parents seemed to be upper middle class but not wealthy yet she allowed them to pour all that money in the wedding.

Yes and no.

I certainly agree that the per-head cost and some of the things they added (swans??) were insane.

But, when they started to cut the guest list, what happened? Nina uninvited clients, George uninvited a guy he hasn't seen in 15 years, the younger brother goes "Mom said I could have a friend" Those don't sound like people a young 20-something would willingly put on their guest list. So it's not all coming from her.