My Big Fat Greek Wedding
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Movie Reviews of My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Movie Review: Greek Treat
Summary: 5 Stars
The last movie I saw with a jam-packed theatre 20 weeks after its release had to have been one of the blockbusters like "The Godfather" or "Titanic." "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" has accomplished this wonder with some extras. Audiences receive every comic nuance with gales of laughter and leave the theatre with smiles on their faces. Scriptwriter/Star Nia Vardalos must be a very happy lady these days!Tuola Portokalos is the youngest daughter of a vibrant, extended Greek family. Not only is there Mom and Dad and bro and sis, there are hordes of aunts and uncles, 27 first cousins, and a live-in Grandma who thinks everyone is a "bloody Turk." Tuola is 30, plain and working as a "menu presenter" at the family-owned restaurant, "Dancing Zorba's." She lives at home, rides to work with Dad, and is subsumed by her family. It is clearly going to take more than contact lenses to make this Plain Jane into a Princess. Though thoroughly loved, her Papa despairs of her fulfilling her destiny of marrying a Greek boy, having beautiful Greek babies, and cooking for the rest of her life.
Michael Constantine is brilliant as Papa Gus. His performance is much more than just a comic turn. He is wildly funny, a patriarch, loving father, bewildered husband, hardworking, proud and sometimes poignant. The eternally lovely Lainie Kazan is the mother we would all stand in line to have. Andrea Martin as chic, voluble Aunt Voula is a first rate scene-stealer.
These three are a tough act to follow, and sometimes the less experienced Nia Vardalos and John Corbett as her non-Greek young man, Ian Miller, pale beside them. Tuola makes a somewhat abrupt transition from wry, intellectual mouse to bedazzled bride-to-be. John Corbett is almost too agreeable to be true. Louis Mandylor as brother Nic gives an impressive performance by turns exuberant, tentative, practical joker and sensitive.
This is a movie for the entire family. The pace and timing are excellent; it is one of the rare ones where you say "Over? Already?" Don't miss it!
Movie Review: Light Hearted Romance with Flair
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm happy I had low expectations when I finally got around to watching "My Big Fat Greet Wedding" Nia Vardalos' semi-autobiographical tale of a lonely heart Greek waitress who finds love and rediscovers the meaning of family. So many people I know - critics included - had poo-poohed the film as too silly and slow, or simply unworthy of the hype that surrounds it. And though I'd gotten a few good reviews from friends, I never expected to laugh as much as I actually did, or even cry the couple of times I ended up doing so. This is a warm, sweet-as-apple-pie film, certain to warm the coldest hearts in your living rooms. Maybe some folks couldn't bear to admit liking the film out of fear of bring pegged as soft or worse yet, stupid. Well - I'm not the smartest guy out there, and it takes alot to make me sob openly during a movie, but "Greek Wedding" was a blast. Aside from the romantic sparks between Vardalos and Corbett, anyone with a diverse and crazy family will appreciate the hysterical plot and zippy dialogue taken from some of life's most precious moments. Vardalos manages to be both a witty comedienne and a gifted writer, with a knack for setting up inspired sequences of truth and humor the likes of which have been missing from most movies for eons. I didn't expect much, but I got much more than a great time --- I saw myself and my family in these characters - cousings and parents, in-laws and booze-swilling patriarchs. Laine Kazan is a showstopper, while Corbett;s parents are the epitome of upper East Side WHITE-dom. A laugh-riot combination ensues when this family decides to throw the greek wedding to end all greek weddings...from frilly stupid bridesmaid dresses to bustier-busting cousins, this movie's got it all.
Congrats NIA - this is a hit of epic proportions. Whether you're Latin like me, or Greek, or Irish, African-American, or French (OK, maybe not French), you're gonna love this flick!
Movie Review: 2002's Best Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not even Greek, and I feel so good about this movie! This is the one I would have nominated for any awards. I have to admit I learned a lot about Greek family today. Although I REALLY don't understand the spitting, I imagine that the Greeks are not too different from other races and ethnicities, all of whom have their quirks and customs, and all of whom have similar conflicts when one of their own marries an "outsider".Hopefully the reader would use common sense and make up their own mind, but as for me, I like this kind of movie. "romantic comedy", as opposed to the more derogatory term "chick flick", best describes this movie, and there are thankfully no blood and guts or shooting in this movie. It's a family movie about family, unlike "Road To Perdition", which I've tried my best to get out of my mind. Best of all, it shows that the studios don't have to hire overpriced bad actors with a sky's-the-limit budget to produce a decent movie that makes a profit.
About the actors, I recognized two: Michael Constantine, who's been around forever, and Lainie Kazan, who plays the mother. I was later told that one of the members of a popular "boy band" has a part in the movie also. I don't keep up with the Top40 smut so I don't know. The stars of the movie are fairly unknown, at least to me, but I'm pleased to see that Greek actors don't have to disguise their names to get work, like they used to way back when. Power to them!
About the movie's story, the part I liked best is the relationship between Tula and her kid brother. I loved how supportive he was of her and how he looked up to her. I found the mother-daughter dynamic interesting as well. The women of the family know exactly how to play the men...it was heartwarming for me.
There needs to be a whole lot more movies like this one out there, and I plan on buying this future classic when it comes out on video.
Movie Review: There are yet families that thrive!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm uncertain how I came to view this film. It may well be that my daughter brought it over when I last had `The Bug,' hoping to lighten my day by a little innocuous entertainment.
It must have worked. This movie is delightfully charming! Nia Vardalos has knocked together a script that is witty and quirky and hilarious, intellectually and culturally satisfying, and just plain fun!
Tom Hanks, the executive producer, must have seen something in the possibilities as well, so I stand in good company. We're guys who are both confident enough to enjoy a good `chick flick' when offered the opportunity.
The casting is superb! Nia, as a seasoned `Second City' player, more than holds her own with veterans Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine and Andrea Martin. John Corbett is a delight in his roll as Nia's new and surprisingly non-Greek love interest, Ian.
The film is honest and loving and holds to familial relationships as being wonderfully important. The soundtrack includes just enough Greek tunes and motives to color the action without being overpowering or intrusive.
I even enjoyed watching it with Greek subtitles, this language being one of which I've had some minimal instruction. My favorite quote, as given by brother Nick (Louis Mandylor) to Toula (Vardalos):
[Of course, the Greek won't transfer, which is too bad.]
"Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become." So you see, for the obligatory higher IQ requirement, a little Greek philosophy (well, OK, `Dear Abby') is included.
If you're considering an easy and light evening of romantic entertainment, I highly recommend this film!
Five Stars this trip!
Russell de Ville
24 March 2006
Movie Review: Fabulous!
Summary: 5 Stars
Apparently the viewer from Encino, California, must have fried his/her brain in the famed "California sun"... I just saw this movie on 1/10/03 with my sister (at probably one of the few theaters still playing it), and I think it is wonderful! The characters are all very human and believable, and just the way one might imagine a thoroughly "ethno-centric" Greek family might be. The way the romance develops between Toula and Ian is so sweet, just like a fairy tale but set in real-life. The initial "misgivings" Toula's father has about her being involved with a non-Greek add the right amount of tension and realistic "strife" to the story. He tries to thwart the budding "mixed" romance by setting her up repeatedly with some really unattractive (read: disgusting) characters he invites over for family dinners, most of whom look too old for her, and one in particular who comes across as some greasy-haired Greek used-car salesman. The overly-involved (read: meddlesome) relatives are hilarious, and Toula and Ian get swept up in the preparations the rest of the family takes it upon themselves to handle--with mixed results (i.e., the invitations, the bridesmaids dresses, the bride's make-up and wedding dress...), but they take it in stride and accept it all as being done out of love. Even Ian's TRULY WASP-y parents--who in their aim to be "proper" are as dull as watching grass grow--end up loosening up and enjoying themselves (MORE Ouzo, anyone?...). Even though the whole movie revolves around Toula's "coming of age", so to speak, and her family--something you might initially think would make for a boring plot--it's full of funny moments, and moves along nicely...far TOO quickly in fact, as it was over much sooner than I would have liked. I could have gone on watching this down-to-earth gal and her family for hours... O-PA!!!