Betsy's Wedding

The film stars Alda, Joey Bishop, Madeline Kahn, Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci, Ally Sheedy, Bibi Besch, Burt Young, and Molly Ringwald. It was theatrically released in the United States on June 22, 1990, by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Betsy's Wedding
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alan Alda
Written by	Alan Alda
Produced by	Martin Bregman Louis A. Stroller
Starring	Alan Alda Joey Bishop Madeline Kahn Catherine O'Hara Joe Pesci Ally Sheedy Burt Young Molly Ringwald
Cinematography	Kelvin Pike
Edited by	Michael E. Polakow
Music by	Bruce Broughton
Production companies	Touchstone Pictures Silver Screen Partners IV Martin Bregman Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date	June 22, 1990 (1990-06-22)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$19.7 million

Eddie Hopper is a construction contractor from Long Island, New York, and dad of two daughters. One of them, Betsy, is about to be married.

Money is tight in the Hopper household, but Eddie, much to the dismay of his wife, Lola, decides that it is important to throw a lavish wedding to impress the wealthy family of Betsy's fiancé. Everyone in the family is throwing advice Eddie's way, even his father's ghost.

A new house Eddie is building is adding to his financial and emotional woes. In desperation, he turns to his corrupt brother-in-law, Oscar, who ends up getting Eddie involved with loan sharks. Stevie Dee is sent to keep an eye on Eddie, but instead turns his gaze to Connie Hopper, who is not only a police officer but the bride's sister.

Betsy's wedding ultimately goes ahead as planned, but is disrupted by a torrential downpour of rain.

• Alan Alda as Eddie Hopper
• Madeline Kahn as Lola Hopper
• Molly Ringwald as Betsy Hopper
• Ally Sheedy as Connie Hopper
• Joe Pesci as Oscar Henner
• Anthony LaPaglia as Stevie Dee
• Catherine O'Hara as Gloria Henner
• Burt Young as Georgie
• Joey Bishop as Mr. Hopper
• Dylan Walsh as Jake Lovell
• Bibi Besch as Nancy Lovell
• Julie Bovasso as Grandma
• Larry Block as Barber

The plot was reportedly inspired by the marriage of Alda's youngest daughter.

Critical response

Betsy's Wedding received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 56% based on reviews from 16 critics. Reviews of the film included comments such as "threadbare concoction", "narcissism flourishing like ragweed" and "unctuous".

Betsy's Wedding has been cited as launching the film career of Anthony LaPaglia. Joe Pesci was asked about the film in interviews and declined to discuss it.

Accolades