Rating: Summary: An entertaining (but predictable) flick Review: This film had so much more to do with Greek stereotypes than I anticipated. Yet that is what made much of the movie funny. Those characters, particularly Toula's parents, were outrageous and carried the film. It was unoriginal in terms of plot for a romantic comedy, but the context of the couple's falling in love was fresh and original. It was a cute movie, not fall-on-your-knees funny, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Rating: Summary: HONESTLY - I DON'T SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT! Review: I'm at a loss to explain why this movie got the Oscar nod for best screenplay. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is the story of an ugly duckling who (stop me if you've heard this one before) turns into a beautiful swan in the end. Written by Nia Vardalos, who also stars as the princess in waiting, the plot is excessively burdened with middle-European cliches that get overplayed. Perhaps a more fitting title would have been, "My Big Fat Greek Stereotype". Really, there are maybe four instances in the entire film where I found myself in a genuine laugh fest. The rest was middle of the road to "oh God, I can't believe they did that!" Transfer wise: At least there's some good news here. Colors are rich, bold and well balanced. Contrast and black levels are equally well represented. Edge enhancement is present but is kept to a bare minimum. Pixelization and shimmering crop up now and then, but here too, they are nothing to quibble about. The audio is 5.1 and nicely presented. BOTTOM LINE: Clearly, this was a movie written for and marketed to a very specific audience, and in so far as that goes, the film hit its target right on the money and all the way through to a t.v. spin off. Never has so little originality been stretched such a long, long way. But this is not a great comedy or even a mediocre one. It's just big and fat.
Rating: Summary: ...? Review: This supposed new talent called vardalos is nothing but a BIG fat GREEK.
Rating: Summary: My Big Fat Greek Sitcom Review: Overall this movie was pleasant. I would agree that it was overated, however. By the end of My Big Fat Greek Wedding you'll have had a few good laughs but beyond that, there isn't much depth in this movie. I realize that its a comedy but I would expect that the writer/director could present some thought-provoking topics and issues rather than "isn't my family wierd and cultural! laugh!" We don't get to view the story from different angles which for me, as a viewer, made the film disappointing. There is little if any character development. The groom's family, for instance: it would have been best if the writer fleshed out these characters a bit more or at least gave them something to say besides "it's a bundt cake. bundt bundt!" It's as if they are zombies with no opinions about thier son's wedding or anything in general. Or are we just supposed to assume that white people are a bunch of stale, dull toast or crackers or whatever metephor is used in the film? This movie is pleasant. But while this is a good thing, it also kills the viewing experience. The movie goer's heart isn't tugged from one side of conflict to the other because, well, there really isn't much of a conflict amidst the humor. Nor is their mind challanged. If anything, its just exposed to stereotypes. I would say, watch MONSOON WEDDING and BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM if you're interested in seeing a cultural humor/drama deserving of the accolade it has received.
Rating: Summary: The Best ...ever.. Review: This is the funniest, most romantic, real movie I have ever watched. The story following the Greek music is so fantastic that I watched it twice in a week and still addicted to it. If you want a 'lift me up' story to watch, this is it! This is it! If you don't believe me, lend it first from the video shop and buy later...
Rating: Summary: A few giggles, but no tension at all and predictible plot Review: The only reason I finally succumbed to seeing this film was because it became such a big hit. I usually avoid romantic comedies though and find them boring. Well, frankly, this was no exception. I do admire the star though, Nia Vardalos, who wrote the screenplay which she adapted from her successful one-woman show.This is the story of a 30-year-old Greek-American woman who finds love with a nice looking non-Greek man. From the opening scene the plot of the story was obvious. And even though there were a few giggles because of the exaggerated ethnic extended family, there was not one bit of tension. There are no conflicts between the lovers. And the only bump in the road is her family, which doesn't seem to be any kind of real impediment - especially since the title of the film is a dead giveaway as to the final outcome. O.K., I did watch the film all the way through. Sometimes I even smiled at some of the predictable jokes. But it was much too simple for my taste. I'm sorry, but I can only give My Big Fat Greek Wedding the mildest of lukewarm recommendations.
Rating: Summary: You don't have to be Greek to enjoy this film.... Review: to enjoy this film. If you have a big noisy family or you married into a big, noisy family, you will feel right at home in this film. Toula Portokalos (Nia Vandalos)is a failure at 30 because she hasn't met her family's goals - to mary a Greek man and produce Greek children. She works at her family's restaurant, the "Dancing Zorbas" as a "hostess". She wears thick glasses, dull clothes and her hair is unkempt. In walks Ian Miller (John Corbett) and her whole attitude changes. She works hard on her mom to allow her to change jobs and got to night school to work inher aunt's travel agency. Along the way, she acquires contact lenses, a new wardrobe and a new hairdo. But the outside transformation doesn't begin to match the inside one - she is determined to meet and date Ian. The transformation is credible - she doesn't start off looking like the "Incredible Hulk" and wind up looking like "Wonder Woman". She and Ian begin to date. Ian realizes she is the restaurants hostess and the scene is played credibly. Somehow Ian runs the gauntlet of meeting the parents and trying to obtain approval. Toula for her part meets Ian's parents - quiet and reserved, they are so totally different than her family it's a wonder she doesn't faint from the shock. Somehow or another, despite Toula's dad's disapproval, they manage to pull the wedding off and it's believable and wonderful. I recommend this movie highly, not just a "chick flick" my two adult sons and my husband also enjoyed the film. And take a look at Nia Vardalos' real life hubby, the one that inspired this tale - he's Ian's buddy in the coffee shop.
Rating: Summary: My Big Fat Greek Waste of Time Review: While this movie was technically done well, I just hated it. There were no issues with plausibility or lapses in plot line. Cinematography and all aspects were good. My beef is with the story. I just didn't care. The director and the writer did a lousy job of making me care about any character at all. I didn't laugh even once while watching this movie. I didn't think anything presented was new or novel or innovative in any way shape or form. For the life of me I can't understand why so many people rave about this film. Knowing what I know now, I would rather read product labels on household cleaners than watch this movie. I appreciate all the hard work that went in to this movie. I know everyone was a professional and did well. I just absolutely positively hated the story.
Rating: Summary: what's not to love? Review: Loved it, loved it, loved it. Can't say enough good things about it. There wasn't one thing about this movie that I didn't love. I keep watching it over and over.
Rating: Summary: OFFENSIVE Review: As an Anglo-Saxon married to a Mediteranian man for 10 years I found this movie offensive, unrealistic, racist, and insinsitive. The movie basically portayed two major themes here: 1) That only flower child Anglo-Saxons with no personality or spine who wished that they weren't Anglo-Saxon would marry someone from a different background. 2) That Anglo-Saxons are boring like "dry toast with nothing on it", as the movie puts it. And further, that Anglo-Saxons just can't wait to be remade into a different culture so that they can "join the party and fun." Again, as an Anglo-Saxon married to a Mediterain I can safely say that never once in my courtship or marriage of 10 years have I ever, ever wanted to become Mediteranian. Nor have I given up any values that make me who I am, such as: join a religion, attempt to speak a Mediteranian language, dance in any Mediteranian style, adopt customs that are not my own, raise my children in a way that my in-laws would see fit, or in any other way try to impress my in-laws in some other false manner as was displayed in this movie. This movie was a poor attempt to give certain individuals a stab at Anglo-Saxon culture, which seems to be popular these days. If the roles were reversed in this film by either culture or gender, it would change from victory to scandal.
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