My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Rating:
Summary: My big fat Greek disappointment
Review: My husband and I were so excited to see this movie after hearing so many great things about it. How duped we were! It was such a disapointment.

First of all, this film protrays the worst in ethnic stereotyping. There are no characters in this film, only caricatures.

There is no chemistry between the two culture-crossed lovers - we hardly even see them having a true conversation that lasts for more than four or five sentences. Why they are attracted to each other is anybody's guess. Everytime Toula talked I was surprised to hear her voice, especially when I could actually understand what she was saying. Ian's character was irritatingly bland, with no opinions or flavor. He never once stood up for anything throughout the entire film. I also found the fact that he was willing to be baptized into a religion he knew nothing about, with apparently no study or preparation absolutely unbelieveable.

All these jokes have been told before, all the situations have been played out so many times - the out-of-control in-laws, the old-world traditions v.s. new world , the uptight WASPs, the tacky wedding clothes, the bewildered, overwhelmed bride finally reallizing how much she loves her gosh-darn crazy family.

I really wanted to like this film, but after enduring the overdone hairdos, the horrible accents, the stereotypically closed-minded Dad (do people really live like this anymore?), and the uninteresting one-dimensional "characters", I can only hope there won't be a Big Fat Greek Sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: MY wife bought this movie because it was hyped so much. We watched it and, although it had some okay points, it was a total waste of money. There was no real story line or plot, most of the humorous parts were what we have seen in many other films. The acting was not bad, but portraying a stereotype without a good story line left me wishing I had rented this. I would recommend renting this before you buy it....and then make your decision. The other side of this review is that my younger brother and his girlfriend loved.....so....this is one of those "love it or hate it," movies......better than renting it, I'm sure one of your friends got suckered into buying this. You should borrow it and see it before you buy.

Peace,

Morley

Rating:
Summary: Dont Bother
Review: This movie is all hipe and no action. Some funny parts, but over all this movie is a waste of time. Save your money.

Rating:
Summary: The Dad and his Windex!
Review: This was a great flick. I watched it on Valentines Day with some friends. Yeah, the title has the word "Wedding" in it so it gives off a chick-flick vibe, but guys and girls alike will love this movie. It's so funny. My mom's side of the family is Asian. We're not Greek at all, but I can definitely relate to the big family of a bazillion aunts, uncles and cousins during a large gathering. In my case, it was a funeral, but nonetheless the wacky mannerisms were all there.

The Dad and Aunt in this movie were a riot. And I love the family's fix-it-all antics to a situation. When Nia's character claims she loves this non-Greek man, her mother replies, "Eat something" as if that would make the problem go away or the father with his Windex to cure all ailments. Classic!

If you haven't seen this movie, you ought to give it a try. Not a sappy, sappy love story. There's a lot of heart at the center of this comedy. You'll love it.

Rating:
Summary: Good things come in small packages.
Review: This film is great. Not only is it one of the funniest movies you could hope to see, it is intelligent. I love that this movie did so well because it gives me hope in non-corporate America, proving that a big label does not make a good product.

Rating:
Summary: Criminally formulaic, but it works...
Review: We know what's going to happen in this ugly duckling tale; heck, the title of the film is indicative of what's to come. Like all romantic-comedies, the goal, since it's difficult to get away from stock characters which riddle these type of films, is to make the journey worthwhile.

The charm of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is taking the formula with which we're so accustomed and spinning it into a culture class conflict, Greek-style. It's been done before with Italian-, Hispanic- and African-Americans. So why not Greek-Americans?

But the story and characters here, while cliche, are quite fun. This film makes no pretense of being anything but entertaining in a middle- to low-brow way, and I don't mean that negatively, but in the sense of appealing to what's familiar, without inflicting grossness or cheap jokes found in more common "R" rated fare.

It was plenty fun since after the first reel, the stage was set with respect to expectations.

So if you're looking for a challenging think piece in the romantic comedy genre, skip this and keep moving. If you're looking for formula, well executed with a twist, loaded with engaging, appealing and familiar character actors, and have a high tolerance for the familiar, accepting the premise set forth from first image to last, then watch this. I've seen a ton of films, from high art to low, from Scorcese to the foreign, from Spielberg to Disney to the Farrellly Brothers. And this film is a fine enough accomplishment for what it set out to do; it is inoffensive and has enough edge and charm to feel "new."

No one is claiming greatness here. Yet "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" does have an inescapable, historic quality to it if for no other reason than the mountains climbed to get it into the public discussion of films. Screenwriter-actress Nia Vardalos has pulled off a minor miracle, hence deserving as much credit as Sylvestor Stallone, who, in 1975, felt compelled to play the lead in his own sentimental screenplay, "Rocky," which went on, against all odds, to win the Best Picture Oscar of 1976. No Best Picture prospects are in order for Vardalos, but she's just "notched" herself into the film history books, no small feat. She and her high-profile producers (which included Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson) took a low-risk gamble and scored big. Like "Rocky," not every film should have to cost $80 million to reach an audience. I make this comparison because both films had shoestring budgets and exceeded expectations in a big-time way.

As far as complaints about not meeting the "hype," I'd ignore such talk. This film was a success not because of a finely-tuned marketing campaign. It was a success because of the best measure of all -- good word-of-mouth from average people on the street -- you know, like your next door neighbor. As much as I read many critics in most magazines, I trust most word-of-mouth recommendations. This is an enjoyable 95 or so minutes that tops most comedies seen on commercial TV.

Rating:
Summary: Over sold!!!
Review: I was disappointed in this movie. I had heard so much about it and was excited when it was released on DVD. What a let down. The humor was hard to find. John Corbett was the only thing worth watching about this movie. Save your money.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, but not the Second Coming.
Review: Look, I think it's great that this film came out of nowhere and did as well as it has at the box office. I even enjoy it. But let's get real---most of the characters who make up Toula's family give a pretty suspicious ring of "stereotype," and I have to wonder whether there aren't some Greek-American families out there who aren't feeling like they've seen their ethnic group painted with a pretty broad brush here. Additionally, some of the plot devices in the film could be seen coming a mile away. It's entertaining to see Toula's mom twist Toula's dad 'round her manicured finger as she intercedes for her daughter, but an original scenario it ain't.

On the other hand, big, fat romantic stories often go over big with the average American moviegoer, and this one certainly pushes all the right buttons in that regard. So maybe let's say that MBFGW has modest aspirations, suceeds in realizing them and if that floats yer boat, enjoy! Me, I just wonder what Nia Vardalos is going to do for a follow-up.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly humorous
Review: Good, clean fun with nothing offensive, but nothing substantial. Kind of like Windex. Michael Constentine seems to have been missing for years, but steals scenes here. Can't wait to see what Nia has up her sleeve next.

Rating:
Summary: Anything different is GOOD.
Review: This film is a great deal of fun. It is important that we remember this. Nia Vardalos has crafted a funny romantic comedy for the forty-somethings (a demographic that is seldom seated in front of ANY independent film.)

Yes, this film is from an independent studio. It has all of the components of a fine film of its genre, save for the studio heads breathing down the writer's neck. However, Vardalos has done nothing more than pen a two-hour ethnic sitcom. This film is in no way 'new' or 'ground breaking.' It is simply a feel-good romantic comedy with no sharp edges, all fuzzy on the inside. What's wrong with that? Nothing. Take your husbands, your wives, your mothers, your friends, and even your children and watch this film. But don't, DON'T expect a foreign film-hardened independent movie buff to get the same satisfaction from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" as the rest of you. For those of you who fall more on the 'artistic' end of the spectrum will find the film formulaic, impotent, and written for the likes of the television junkie.

Bottom Line: For entertainment, this is a four star. For art, this is a McDonald's drive-thru