Like the other films in the franchise, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” insists to the point of obnoxiousness that you have a good time. And here, eventually, you’re forced to at least partially surrender.

作家和明星Nia Vardalos(“Connie and Carla”and CBS TV series“My Big Fat Greek Life”), who assumes the director’s chair for the first time in the series, sets this latest watchable but wildly meandering adventure of the Portokalos family in their homeland of Greece, finally.

But first, a recap of the first two entries in the series: The original “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002) introduces us to Toula (Vardalos), a mousy worker at her family’s Chicago restaurant, Dancing Zorba’s, who goes against her family’s wishes by dating a non-Greek man, Ian (John Corbett, “Sex and the City”). It was an out-of-nowhere, impossible-to-dislike hit that remains one of the most financially successful indie releases of all-time, bringing in $368.7 million against a $5 million budget.

“My Big Fat Wedding 2”(2016) might not have been as fresh as the first, but it deepened the series’ themes of family strength amid the passing of generations. Toula and Ian were the middle generation this time, caught between their maturing daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris,“Jupiter’s Legacy”) and Toula’s aging, feuding parents, Maria (Lainie Kazan) and Gus (Michael Constantine).

But “My Big Fat Wedding 3” struggles to find the storylines to make this sequel necessary, and it begins on a depressingly sad note. Gus has died (Constantine died in 2021 at age 94) and Maria is suffering from dementia. Gus’ dying wish was to have Toula deliver his personal journal to his three boyhood pals and celebrate his life in his childhood village.

Leaving Maria at home, Toula leads a group including Ian, Paris, Toula’s aunt Voula (the great Andrea Martin), brother Nick (Louis Mandylor) and aunt Theia (Maria Vacratsis) to Greece, where the mayor of Gus’ hometown, Victory (Melina Kotselou), meets them in a rickety truck at the Athens airport.

村里有六个人口,格斯的星期五ends long moved away, and appears to be stuck in the early 20th century with its quirky customs, a mean old woman (Anthi Andreopoulou) who barks instead of talks, and other comedic bits that at once celebrate and stereotype rural Greek life.

Of course, there are old family secrets hidden in that village and, like the other films, there is a wedding. Popular regular cast members, such as cousins played by Joey Fatone and Gia Carides, and other familiar members of the Portokalos clan also appear.

Vardalos‘ biggest fault as a writer is that she does no favors to Vardalos the director. Aware that the first two films are so beloved, she gives each character their own little storyline (the worst: the recurring joke of Nick’s public manscaping). That’s an understandable and very generous impulse, but it makes for a scattershot mess. There’s a lot going on in this 91-minute movie.

But this latest installation in the “Big Fat Greek” franchise is colorful and celebratory, eager to entertain and wears its heart on its sleeve. There’s something to be said for that.

Reach G. Allen Johnson:ajohnson@sfchronicle.com