THE FILM... The Portkalos family moved to Chicago from Greece to give their children a better life. Everyone in the Portkalos family worries about Toula (played by Nia Vardolos), not married at 30 years old she helps out at Dancing Zorba's, which is the greek restaurant owned by her parents Gus and Maria. Her father believes that she will work here until she meets a 'nice greek man' and has many 'nice greek children'. He is a traditionalist and can track any work back to Greek decent, he can also curiously cure anything with a spritz of Windowlene!
Her days are boring, just like her hair and geeky clothes. Just when she is daydreaming she finds herself looking into the eyes of a tall handsome stranger in the family restaurant and freezes like a greek statue. The handsome stranger barely notices her.
Toula devises a plan to sign up for a computer class (despite her fathers oldy worldy objections "What does she need college, she's smart enough for a girl!
Suddenly she gets a new attitude, new clothes, contact lenses and she has transformed herself from the geeky waitress.
She takes
a job at her Aunt's Travel Agency and this time the handsome stranger (who just happens to walk by!) notices her. His name is Ian Miller (played by John Corbett) Ian is a teacher, tall handsome long haired but definately not greek.
He asks her out for a date and they fall in love. There's trouble when the family find out that she is dating in secret and that the boyfriend is not a greek. Her father does not give his permission for the couple to date and her mother tells her to end it. They carry on in secret all the while Toula's parents invite all the unattached greek men they know for dinner in the hope of pairing them up with Toula.
Finally Ian asks Toula to marry him promising that he will do anything to get her parents to accept him. So Ian is Baptised into the Greek Orthodox Church with all the family watching. At the inevitable Engagement Party the family all dance and sing but silence falls when they overhear that Ian is a vegetarian. Toula's Aunt is inviting them round for dinner and says " Vegetarian? ..... He no eat meat? ..... S'okay I make lamb!"
His parents (Country Club Members and very straight laced Americans) are invited round to meet the family and are shocked to find that this is not just Toula's parents but all the Aunties/Uncles and 25 Cousins!
Finally the big fat greek wedding takes place and yes you guessed it, there are about 10 bridemaids of all shapes and sizes in terrible dresses, her Aunties have plastered makeup onto her face, theres a big limousine to take them to the church and worst of all, horror of horrors Toula wakes up on her wedding morning to find a ZIT!
BACKGROUND INFO... My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a romantic comedy. It was directed by Joel Zwick and produced by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks wife went to see the play and was so impressed that she mentioned it to Tom and that was how they came to produce it.
THE MAIN CHARACTERS... Toula is a dull, ugly, thirty something barely living her life. She dresses and acts so middle aged that its such a pleasant surprise to find that she can look lovely. Her new attitude brings new energy to her character which is very refreshing. She is funny, attractive and amazed that such an attractive man could like her. Her portrayal of a young girl pulled between the love of her life and her family is very realistic and moving in places. You feel her emotions as though it could be you.
Ian is a handsome stranger with long hair. (I personally think he looks better with it shorter!) He has been a bit of a reluctant playboy. When he first meets dowdy Toula he finds her humour funny. He doesn't recognise her when he meets up with her after her new image. He would do anything for Toula and her happiness is all he wants. His character is as adorable as a puppy.
Toula's Parents are hilarious. They come out with inappropriate phrases and don't understand others. The Greek way is the correct way and according to Gus everyone wants to be Greek! They play a convincing loving couple who are trying to marry their daughter off quickly whilst trying to adapt to American life still keeping their Greek traditions, which is no easy feat!
MY OP... This is a lovely film, very funny and witty. My favourite character would have to be Toula's stuck in Greece father. He was hilarious with his old traditional beliefs and trying to be the man of the house when his wife really wore the trousers. I would rate this 7 out of 10 but more of a must see DVD than at the cinema. Might be good for a girls night out (which is what I did!) but I don't think it would appeal to alot of men.
THE CAST... Nia Vardalos as Toula Portokalo John Corbett as Ian Miller Michael Constantine as Gus Portokalos Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula Louis Mandylor as Nick Portokalos Joey Fatone as Cousin Angelo
LENGTH... 95 minutes
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
It's not surprising thatMy Big Fat Greek Weddinggrew more popular over the course of its ... more
US theatrical release (whereas most blockbusters open big and then drop precipitously)--not only does it have believable situations and engaging characters, but th...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
It's not surprising thatMy Big Fat Greek Weddinggrew more popular over the course of its ... more
US theatrical release (whereas most blockbusters open big and then drop precipitously)--not only does it have believable situations and engaging characters, but th...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Everyone in the Portokalos family worries about Toula. Still unmarried at 30-years old, ... more
she works at Dancing Zorba's, the Greek restaurant owned by her parents, and smells like garlic bread. Her days are drab and dull, just like her hair, her clothes, ...
Advantages: Had John Corbett in it and was a gentle, sweet tale. Disadvantages: Not much chemistry from the two leads, John Corbett didn't live up to Sex in the City previous form
![My Big Fat Greek Wedding [DVD] [2002]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78528744.jpg "My Big Fat Greek Wedding [DVD] [2002]")
very helpful by (97%):
helpful by (3%):
