Easter Sunday is a 2022 comedy film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, and written by Ken Cheng and Kate Angelo, from a story by Cheng. Chandrasekhar previously directed Super Troopers (2001), and The Dukes of Hazard (2005).

Jo Koy stars as a struggling actor, comedian, and single father who attends a gathering of his loud and dysfunctional Filipino American family on Easter Sunday.

The cast includes Jo Koy, Jimmy O. Yang, Tia Carrere, Brandon Wardell, Eva Noblezada, Lydia Gaston, Asif Ali, Rodney To, Eugene Cordero, Jay Chandrasekhar, Tiffany Haddish, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Easter Sunday was released only in theaters on August 5th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

To be honest, Easter Sunday wasn’t even on my radar prior to seeing the trailer in theaters a few months ago, and I also wasn’t all that familiar with Jo Koy as a stand-up comedian. Nonetheless, as a guy who loves a good comedy, the trailer had me intrigued and wanting to know more. I did a bit of research and learned that the screenplay was loosely based on Koy’s life and struggles as he built a successful career. I also can’t pass up an opportunity to see my guy Lou Diamond Phillips, who starred alongside Mark Wahlberg in The Big Hit back in 1998, in another movie. So, was it worth a trip to the theater? Keep reading to find out!

I would say the answer is yes, but I do say that with some hesitation which I will touch on later in the review. Easter Sunday packs lots of laughs, some great characters, and more than anything else it kept me entertained. I really liked the genuine feel of getting together with family during the holidays, and the spectacle that comes along with it. I can certainly relate to what it is like to have a dysfunctional and very difficult-to-please family, so I was able to connect to the script and the overall feel. The plot was simple but effective and watching all of these charismatic characters with big personalities interact while trying to make it to Easter dinner was fun. I also really liked learning more about Filipino American families. At the root of the story, Easter Sunday is about doing everything you can to make it in life while feeling the immense pressure of seemingly unreachable expectations, and I felt like they got it right.

Overall, the cast for Easter Sunday was great and without a doubt the driving force for the film. Jo Koy leads the way and sets the tone as he gets by far the most screen-time. As I briefly discussed in the introduction I wasn’t all that familiar with Koy prior to seeing this film, but I love his energy. It is clear from the start that the entire supporting cast feeds off his energy. I can’t really decide on who I liked most in the supporting roles, but with Easter Sunday, it really is more of a group effort as they wanted to make the big dysfunctional family believable. I did also really enjoy Lydia Gaston as Koy’s strong-willed and very old-school mother.

Rodney To played such a unique and over-the-top role as Koy’s uncle, but I thought he was hilarious. I also liked Eugene Cordero as Koy’s troublemaking cousin. Actress Tiffany Haddish, who is a favorite of mine, adds some comedic relief in a sort of SNL-type role. I also have to give a shout-out to veteran actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who plays a very funny fictionalized version of himself. And lastly, even though he plays a small but important role, I love seeing Silicon Valley star Jimmy O. Yang in pretty much any role he plays. The guy just cracks me up.

Director Jay Chandrasekhar, widely known for directing and starring in comedy cult classics like Super Troopers (2001) and Beer Fest (2006), is once again a swiss army knife on Easter Sunday. I thought he was great behind the camera, making viewers feel like they were right there with the cast in sunny California. He also plays Koy’s agent Nick, which was a ridiculous yet hilarious role. Chandrasekhar, who played Thorny in Super Troopers, has an infectious on-screen presence no matter how over-the-top his character is.

THE BAD

Easter Sunday was a very funny and overall enjoyable movie, but it did leave a great deal on the table. I won’t dive in too much as the film itself has a fairly straightforward concept, but it still struggled with figuring out and sticking with an identity. I can’t say whether the issues are more with the writing or the acting, or likely a combination of the two, but the emotional element of the film fell flat for me. I mean sure, this is a comedy through and through and I wasn’t expecting an elaborate storyline, but the final act of the film attempted unsuccessfully to get viewers to feel something. I personally thought it all felt very forced, and they would have been better suited to sticking to the primary comedic element of the film. Now, this isn’t a deal breaker by any means, it just keeps Easter Sunday from making as big of an impression as it could have. Plus, I won’t name any names but a few of the supporting cast members left something to be desired as far as their acting talent.

THE VERDICT

A dysfunctional family comedy that shines a light on the humble beginnings of talented stand-up comic Jo Koy, Easter Sunday certainly missed some opportunities but still provides lots of laughs and good old-fashioned entertainment. I had fun with this movie and genuinely enjoyed all of the characters who are the heart and soul of the story. As I talked about I do think quite a few jokes missed the mark, the writing had issues, and sometimes the cast struggled, but with all that being said I have no problem recommending Easter Sunday, especially for Jo Koy fans.