My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: When I found out that I was going to see "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" I was not too excited. I thought that the movie would be a cheesy romance that I would loathe. My prediction on the movie was one hundred percent wrong and I ended up loving the movie. The film is a romantic comedy with many layers that make for an interesting viewing and loads of fun.

The main character in this comedy is a thirty year old Greek woman. She works as a hostess at her family's Greek restaurant, Dancing Zorba's. Her main job in life, which is given to her by her family, is to marry a Greek man and make many Greek babies. She has no relations with any men and is very far from completing her job that is given to her. She takes up computer classes from a local Chicago university and then takes a seminar on computers and tourism. She gets a job at her aunt's travel agency and one day while working, she meets a man that is perfect for her. But there is one big problem. He's not Greek. This movie documents the love story between the two, how the Greek family reacts to everything, and eventually the big wedding. This is certainly one of the funniest movies that I have seen this year.

Since the main character in this film is Greek, we learn a lot about Greek families in general and a bit about their culture. We learn that Greek families are very close knit and know what everybody in the family is up to. We learn a bit about the Greeks' culinary tastes and social habits as well. For a dinner that is supposed to introduce the Greek woman's parents and her boyfriend's parents the whole Greek family comes because that is normal among them. This film is a quick little tool to pick up some information on the Greek culture.

What makes this movie as funny as it is are the characters, mainly all of the Greeks that make up the big family. There are a plethora of aunts, uncles, and cousins that just make you laugh by obeserving their actions and what they say. One of the funniest characters in the film is the Greek woman's father. Whether you are watching him tell somebody how any word is derived from the Greek language or watching him spray the Windex all over the place, you are bound to laugh. All of the characters are very believable people, too.

In addition to the comedic brilliance of this film, there is a deep message that is essential in life. When the family of the Greek woman rejects her non-Greek boyfriend this is an example of intolerance. They only want the woman to marry a Greek regardless of how good the man is on the inside. The message that you will get when you walk out of this movie is that you should respect people for who they are on the inside, not by their ethnicity.

For lots and lots of laughs and a great time, this is the movie to watch.

Happy Viewing!

Rating:
Summary: Bland
Review: A really BLAND film. Contrived and unfunny and bland. Lainie Kazan as the mother was almost certainly cast because she played an almost identical role as the ethnic mother to an embarrassed and Americanized offspring in MY FAVORITE YEAR. See MY FAVORITE YEAR (starring Peter O'Toole) if you want to see what this film SHOULD have been.

Rating:
Summary: Not so fat
Review: We've seen this movie before -- child of an immigrant feels stifled by ethnic customs. She breaks away by going to college and then getting involved with someone not of her ethnic background. In this film the ethnic group is Greek. It could have just as easily been Italian, Jewish, Korean, Mexican, whatever. Although the plot is predictable, the film is well done, not too saccharin.

John Corbett (the DJ in "Northern Exposure"), playing the love interest was a little too low key. The film would have been much more interesting if the boyfriend was not a "white bread American," but someone from another ethnic group, say a Pakistani.

One last thing, the film lets the audience laugh along with the Greek immigrant father as he extols Greek culture and customs. When it comes to the WASP parents, though, the film laughs at them. WASPs are the last ethnic group it's okay to ridicule.

Rating:
Summary: Delicious!
Review: This is the feel-good film of the summer. Transposed by author/star Nia Vardalos from stage play to film; moved from Winnipeg to Chicago (but filmed in Toronto) Vardalos invests her character with great charm, vulnerability and humor. Lainie Kazan is, as always, a joy in yet another memorable turn as a mother larger than life and twice as grand (as she was in My Favorite Year). It's great to see Michael Constantine play the Greek father who could well be a Jewish mother. And Andrea Martin is hilarious as Vardalos's aunt. There are wonderfully convivial Greek family moments and painfully amusing scenes with (John Corbett) the groom's unspeakably Waspish vegetarian parents. A pure delight. Not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: LOL
Review: This movie is fun and funny! I don't laugh out loud at very many films, and I was laughing out loud from the beginning to the ending. Why haven't we heard more about this film? In comparison with most of the movies that are released today, this is a goldmine. Want to have a great time and laugh over and over again? See "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

Rating:
Summary: If You Want A Good Laugh - See This Movie
Review: It's light, it's fun. The acting was very good. There were a couple of times it was a little confusing - like they had to leave something out because of time constraints, but it really didn't take away from the movie. It made for a very enjoyable evening.

Rating:
Summary: Good writing trumps special effect and star quality
Review: sleeper of the year. you'll laugh and cry, smile and clap and there are no special effects, million dollar stars, expensive sets ......i'll bet they didn't even cater the shoots ..... very well written. even though greek american culture is well described. this could be the story of 1st and 2nd generational american transistions from any culture. for those of us that are 2nd generation greek americans, the experience is a bonus, but anyone with grandparents from the old country will easily identify. well written. well depicted. shows that art, and photography directors do not need money to tell a great story.oh yeah ....the story line is terrific ....... go see it, and you'll be telling all your friends about it!!

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL, FUNNY & LIGHTHEARTED MOVIE
Review: The movie is a long time in coming for Greek Americans, thumbs up to Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for creating it, and to Nia for the fabulous story line. Even if you are a non-Greek, this movie is outstandingly hilarious. And those who are non-Greek and have married into an all Greek family can definitely relate. And those who have married into any family of a certain ethnic group, while you being of a different background can relate. The title and characters may be Greek, but it's all Family. So Truly, everyone should find this movie meaningful, enjoyable, and funny. (I saw it 3 times!)

Rating:
Summary: Raise Your Glass of Ouzo To The Funniest Movie of the Year
Review: Gus Portokalos tells his daughter Toula there are two kinds of people in the world: Greeks and those who wish they were Greek. Certainly everyone who watches this movie will yearn to be Greek, if only for a few days. The over-the-top extended family, the mountains of food, the parental dictums that often fly in the face of logic, the mountains of food, the strong faith-centered family, the mountains of food, the dozens of cousins, and did I mention the mountains of food?

This is not only the funniest movie I've seen this year, but also the best romantic comedy to come along recently. The audience was laughing so hard I missed some of the lines and can't wait to see it again when it comes out on video.

Michael Constantine steals the show as the irrational father who desperately wants his daughter to marry a Greek man. Lainie Kazan is at her peak as the mother who explains that although the father is "the head" of the house, the mother is "the neck" and can make the head turn in any direction she pleases.

Writer and leading lady Nia Vardalos is amazing to watch as she transforms from ugly duckling to beauty and captures the heart of handsome non-Greek Ian Miller. John Corbett (Aidan from "Sex and the City") is flawless as Ian, the smitten WASP who readily converts to Greek Orthodox to make his future in-laws happy. His baptism is a highlight of this wonderful story as is his introduction of his parents to life in the Portokalos home.

There are so many funny things in this movie from the kidnapped Greek mother who curses Turks to the 90-minute commercial for Windex and the tiny little string on the wedding gift the bride's parents give the newlyweds that everyone will come away smiling and feeling good just knowing that somewhere in the world another Greek-American wedding is probably being planned.

Rating:
Summary: OPAH, MORE OUZO-PLEASE!
Review: BIG FAT WEDDING is another very funny movie involving weddings. Monsoon Wedding comes to mind and the Miller family reminded me of the Senator and his wife in "BIRD CAGE". I really love this type of movie, the dialog is at a clip and the characters are great. U know the plot by now so will spare u that and get to the actors. Michael Constantine (Gus Portokalos) as the dogmatic Greek 'Head' and my ever favorite Lainie Kazan (Maria Portokalos) as "the neck that turns the (head)" keep u rolling in the aisle's.Gus Is also the inventer of all the cures in the world,( he goes around with a bottle of windex in his hand and sprys everthing) to cure it.

Gus is a firm beliver in family tradition, ie, daughter marries young to a Greek man has babies and raises and cooks and shuts-up, and let's men do their men things. Toula is the daughter and she is 30 and homely and isnt's interested in the greek men that Gus brings around for her.

Comes a day when Mr. Right, comes into the restaurant that the Portokalos family own, and Toula works there... she sees Ian Miller(John Corbett) and actually falls apart, very funny scene. She can do nothing but stare, John is amused and leaves with his buddy.

Toula decides to make her-self over, change her hair , lipstick, rouge etc.and loose weight and comes out looking quite pretty.

Eventually Toula goes to night school to learn travel computers and works for her Aunt. John come in and they finally get together. They date , but the family does not know she is seeing Ian. Gus is dead set against the mixed marriage. But the old barriers start to break down with the help of the "Neck", Maria P. And soon the wedding is being planned.

Toula's brother (Nick) Louis Mandylor-Theodosopulos is always trying to get Ian in trouble by telling him to say things in greek, once at the dinner gathering he told Ian to say something to all the people there, but, Ian was skepticle and asked Nick's cousin if that was what it meant(thank all of you etc) the cousin said yes, and Ian shouted the sentence to the group, only to find out , he said "I Have three testicles. Dead-silence, then everyone knew what happened and laughed.

This was a very enjoyable movie and all the cast and the greek music was great. The family held together even though the non-greek married the daughter. He did become baptised in the Greek Orthodox church. Go see it folks u will laugh all thru it. I give this movie a five star salute.

ciao yaaah69