My Big Fat Greek Wedding
(A- or 3.5/4 stars)
If you want to enjoy the funniest, warmest indie comedy of the year, I suggest you take a crack at 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding', directed by Joel Zwick & written by Nia Vardalos. The plot: a mousy 30 yr. old Greek woman named Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos, herself) falls in love with a non-Greek man named Ian (John Corbett, of Sex & the City fame) & struggles to get her large family to accept him. While she tries to sway them, she's also trying to come to terms with her own heritage & cultural identity. Though some moments feel too mapped-out, most of this film & its eccentric characters are a breath of fresh air.
Toula lives with her very Greek family & works in their very Greek restaurant named Dancing Zorbas. Her father, Gus (Michael Constantine, so warm & funny), wants nothing but for Toula to finally get married, have children, and cook for them -- that's it. But Toula wants so much more from her life. And after her loving mother, Maria (the wonderful Lainie Kazan), convinces Gus (in her own hysterical ways) to let Toula take some classes at a nearby Chicago college, she starts to come out of her shell, a bit.
Eventually, Toula meets Ian Miller, a very WASPY high school teacher who just loves everything about her. He does not understand her apprehension in their dating/him meeting her family until he actually 'does'. Her dad is furious at her dating a non-Greek; when he should be ecstatic that she's dating someone, at all. Gus has to learn to accept Ian. Ian has to learn how to adapt to a huge Greek family (including getting through to them that he's a vegetarian; they just don't get it, haha). And Toula has to learn how to break free from her inward reticence & live the life she wants to live. It all concludes in a big, fun, & heartwarming manner.
'MBFGW' works because it is both hilarious & heartfelt. Nia Vardalos parodies the Greeks (their ways, values) because she IS Greek. We've seen many instances in TV/movies where Italians, Jews, Blacks & Russians are made fun of ... now it's the Greek's turn. Whether it's the way they decorate their house, the fact that most of the family's names are Nick or Nicky, or that Gus uses Windex to cure everything ... I had a ball meeting the Portokalos family. Also funny is Toula's Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin). She has a monologue during a party scene that almost had me peeing in my pants. Though nothing is particularly groundbreaking in 'MBFGW' ... it's just a nice little story, and a fun, familiar, hilarious comedy at the highest level.
Vardalos & Corbett are likeable & relatable in their parts. So not only does the comedy work at full throttle, but the romance is handled nicely, as well. The balance between lunacy (Gus' elderly, senile mama breaking into neighbor's homes) & poignancy (have the tissues on hand when Gus gives something valuable to Toula near the end) make this film this film a near-perfect Friday one. Apparently, my Nana used to live next door to some Greek people many decades ago and can attest to some of their endearingly quirky ways. 'MBFGW' is an affable & radiant movie. Big thumbs up.
Toula lives with her very Greek family & works in their very Greek restaurant named Dancing Zorbas. Her father, Gus (Michael Constantine, so warm & funny), wants nothing but for Toula to finally get married, have children, and cook for them -- that's it. But Toula wants so much more from her life. And after her loving mother, Maria (the wonderful Lainie Kazan), convinces Gus (in her own hysterical ways) to let Toula take some classes at a nearby Chicago college, she starts to come out of her shell, a bit.
Eventually, Toula meets Ian Miller, a very WASPY high school teacher who just loves everything about her. He does not understand her apprehension in their dating/him meeting her family until he actually 'does'. Her dad is furious at her dating a non-Greek; when he should be ecstatic that she's dating someone, at all. Gus has to learn to accept Ian. Ian has to learn how to adapt to a huge Greek family (including getting through to them that he's a vegetarian; they just don't get it, haha). And Toula has to learn how to break free from her inward reticence & live the life she wants to live. It all concludes in a big, fun, & heartwarming manner.
'MBFGW' works because it is both hilarious & heartfelt. Nia Vardalos parodies the Greeks (their ways, values) because she IS Greek. We've seen many instances in TV/movies where Italians, Jews, Blacks & Russians are made fun of ... now it's the Greek's turn. Whether it's the way they decorate their house, the fact that most of the family's names are Nick or Nicky, or that Gus uses Windex to cure everything ... I had a ball meeting the Portokalos family. Also funny is Toula's Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin). She has a monologue during a party scene that almost had me peeing in my pants. Though nothing is particularly groundbreaking in 'MBFGW' ... it's just a nice little story, and a fun, familiar, hilarious comedy at the highest level.
Vardalos & Corbett are likeable & relatable in their parts. So not only does the comedy work at full throttle, but the romance is handled nicely, as well. The balance between lunacy (Gus' elderly, senile mama breaking into neighbor's homes) & poignancy (have the tissues on hand when Gus gives something valuable to Toula near the end) make this film this film a near-perfect Friday one. Apparently, my Nana used to live next door to some Greek people many decades ago and can attest to some of their endearingly quirky ways. 'MBFGW' is an affable & radiant movie. Big thumbs up.