I had known about this supposedly popular film for several years, I found out it was made on a low budget of $5 million, it grossed over $365 million worldwide, and it spawned two sequels and a television series, so I was relieved when I finally got to watch it. Basically, single thirty-year-old Greek American Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos (Golden Globe nominated Nia Vardalos, also writing) comes from a large, loud, intrusive Greek family that wants her to get married and have children. She is frumpy and meek, she works in her family's Chicago restaurant, "Dancing Zorba's", but longs to do something more with her life. While working one day, good-looking American school teacher Ian Miller (John Corbett) comes into the restaurant, and Toula develops a crush on him. That evening, she tells her parents that she wants to go to college to learn about computers. But her father, Costas "Gus" Portokalos (Michael Constantine), gets emotional that Toula may leave him. Her mother Maria (Lainie Kazan) comforts her and convinces Gus that Toula should make her own choices. As the weeks pass, Toula changes her image, taking off her glasses and wearing contact lenses, styling her hair, and wearing makeup and brighter clothes that show off her figure. She gains more confidence and finds a course on computers and tourism. She tells her Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin), who owns a travel agency, about her newfound skills that she could apply to Voula's business. Voula agrees, and she and Maria convince Gus to agree as well. Toula is happy to be working at the travel agents and catches Ian's attention. He silently flirts and plays with her looking through the window, eventually entering and asking her to dinner. On their date, Toula confesses to Ian that her family owns Dancing Zorba's, and he suddenly recognises her. Toula feared that he would lose interest in her, but Ian reaffirms his fondness for her. Knowing her family would disapprove of her dating a non-Greek. She lies that she is taking a pottery class and continues dating Ian and they fall in love. However, Toula is exposed when a family friend sees them kissing. Gus is furious that Ian did not ask his permission to date Toula, even though they are grown adults. Gus refuses to let them continue seeing each other because Ian is not Greek, but they continue dating anyway. Gus tries introducing Toula to single Greek men, but she is not interested, Ian proposes marriage and Toula accepts. Maria tells Gus that he must accept their engagement, but he remains upset because Ian is not a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. Wanting the family to accept him, Ian agrees to be baptised into the church. The Portokalos family finally accepts him but constantly interferes with the wedding planning. The family designs ugly bridesmaids dresses and Ian's mother's name is misspelled on the wedding invitations. Ian's parents, Rodney (Bruce Gray) and Harriet (Fiona Reid), are quiet and conservative, they feel awkward surrounded by the entire family during a loud and extravagant Greek family dinner. Overwhelmed, they get drunk on strong Greek alcohol. Toula worries that her father has not accepted Ian. Toula and Ian are married, with a combination of both Greek and American traditions. At the wedding reception, Gus gives a heartfelt speech focusing on how the differences between the families and their backgrounds do not matter. Gus and Maria then surprise the happy couple with a house as a wedding present. As the two families dance together, Toula narrates that while her family is indeed loud, odd, and somewhat dramatic, she knows they love her and will always be there for her. Six years later, Toula and Ian have a daughter who is about to start Greek school. Their home is revealed to be right next door to Gus and Maria's house. Also starring Joey Fatone as Angelo, Gia Carides as Cousin Nikki, Louis Mandylor as Nick Portokalos, Ian Gomez as Mike, Gerry Mendicino as Uncle Taki, Stavroula Logothettis as Athena Portokalos, Jayne Eastwood as Mrs. White, and Kathryn Haggis as Cousin Marianthi. Vardalos, who wrote an autobiographical script, and Corbett have good on-screen chemistry, and Constantine is likeable as the father who claims everything has a Greek origin. Most of the humour comes from the over-the-top antics of the Greek to-be in-laws, a loved-up couple and cultures clashing is nothing original, but it is charming and amusing enough, an alright romantic comedy. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Nia Vardalos, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. Worth watching!
Review of My Big Fat Greek Wedding
