Product DescriptionToula Portokalos is a quiet, devoted daughter in a big, hectic, crazy Greek family. Working at her father's restaurant, "Dancing Zorba's," she hides behind a mop of mousy brown hair and thick, impenetrable glasses, keeping her family close and the world at a distance. But one day at the restaurant, she finds herself pouring coffee for a man so strikingly good-looking, that he inspires her to change her life - and the way she sees the world - forever. With a new hairdo, wardrobe, contact lenses, and most important of all, a whole new attitude, Toula steps out into the world a new woman, all ready to meet her man. Ian Miller is tall, handsome, but definitely not Greek. And whether he can handle Toula, her parents, her aunts, uncles, cousins and several centuries of Greek culture remains to be seen. But when you see the world through Toula's eyes, anything is possible! - Actors: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Christina Eleusiniotis, Kaylee Vieira
- Director: Joel Zwick
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
- ISBN: 0783122322
- Language (Original Language): English
- Language (Subtitled): English
- Language (Subtitled): French
- Language (Subtitled): Greek
- Language (Subtitled): Spanish
- Region Code: 1
- Release Date: 2003-02-11
- Running Time: 96 minutes
- Theatrical Release Date: 2002-08-02
Customer ReviewsReviewed on 2008-06-24  
A Big Fat Overrated Piece of Fluff
I just don't understand it. Why was this, a film about a mousy 30-something Greek woman getting a Pygmalion makeover and finding the man of her dreams, then going through the cacophony of planning a wedding with her colossal nuclear family, such a critical and box-office masterstroke? Why was a script written by the film's star, lacking in plot and containing banal dialogue, hailed as one of the better comedies of 2002? Why does everyone think that this movie is so great?
I'll tell you why - HYPE. Movies like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" have lived off this wondrous distortion of facts since the beginning of time and the reason for their continued success is that moviegoers never bother to question the gushing quotes of such renowned publications as Newsweek, People and the Los Angeles/New York Times. Simply put, to describe "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" as "hilarious", "brilliant" or otherwise "spectacular" is RUBBISH. This movie is schmaltzy, cringe-inducing and uninspired. 1990's "Father of the Bride" and "Muriel's Wedding" are a riot compared to this.
Here's the mundane storyline: Toula Portokalos (Vardalos) is a woman on the precipice of middle-age whose parents consistently give her grief about being an old maid - all they've wanted and planned for her since she was a child was to get married as soon as she came of age. What makes things worse for her is that her older sister Athena has been married for nearly a decade, has three children and is pregnant with her fourth. Toula is exhausted by the henpecking of her female relatives to find a husband and by her authoritative, sexist father Gus (Constantine) - he is against all things that elevate women above men, particularly regarding employment and higher education.
Problems arise when Toula finally meets Mr. Right, a college professor named Ian Miller (Corbett) whose background radically differs from hers. All spouses within the Portokalos family are of Greek lineage and Ian's opposing ancestry causes dissension with Toula's parents, particularly Gus. So Ian, being the nice guy that he is, decides to get baptized in a Greek Orthodox church so he can obtain a mandated marriage to Toula and make peace with her folks. The movie ends with the extravagant ceremony and reception, complete with an extremely generous wedding gift from Gus to the newlyweds that aims to wrench the heartstrings of its viewers.
There - I've told you the whole story, minus a few details. I'll also tell you that the script, lauded as "hilarious", is far from it. It isn't smart humor, it isn't slapstick, it isn't wry - it's totally uninspired and will leave many people scratching their noggins in utmost bewilderment. Where is the incredible mirth that the critics suggested? Those liars - I should've rented "There's Something About Mary" or "Dumb and Dumber" and gotten my money's worth. Families with a Greek lineage may enjoy the many inside quips, but being German-Irish myself, the jokes were lost on me.
Both Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson backed this project by serving as producers, giving the unknown Vardalos a chance to take her one-woman stage show to the mainstream. I'm beginning to think the Hanks were the ONLY reason this film was pushed in the limelight.
Bottom line: "Cutesy" and "heartwarming" would be the fairest ways to describe "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". If you want to be rolling in the aisles, rent "Bruce Almighty" - that's hilarity at it's finest, with a little "heartwarming" on the side.
|  | Reviewed on 2008-06-16
Hard for me to watch but the wife and daughter love it.
Difficult to get past the premise of the male lead selling his soul to become "worthy" of the Greek female lead. But has some funny moments, if you refuse to ever take it seriously. | | Reviewed on 2008-04-03
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
This movie takes every stereotypical assumption you ever had about Greek people, and multiplies it for this laugh out loud satire. Toula has been ruled by her dominating family her whole life, but when she starts seeing, and later gets engaged to Ian Miller, both are determined not to let anyone interfere. What a great romantic comedy, but since there is also a fair amount of drama, I may have classified it incorrectly. Both the acting and script were very well done.
| | Reviewed on 2008-02-04
Great Family entertainment...and I do mean FAMILY
First...Ignore the idiotic negative reviews about how simplistic and stereotypical this film is. Those elements are the pillars of its appeal. Although the family in question is Greek, you could easily insert Jewish, Italian, Hispanic, etc. I refused to see this movie when it first came out even though urged to do so by my parents. I thought it would be a melodramatic waste of time and money. I recently was "trapped" into seeing it on a cruise ship by my friends. Upon return home, I ordered the DVD. This is a very funny and satisfying film. | | Reviewed on 2008-01-07
442 Five Star Reviews -- and counting!
No! It's not Shakespeare! (By the way, do you know he was Greek?) But, it sure is one of the funniest, most heart-warming movies I've seen in years. If you are Greek, Italian, German, Irish or Anything, you will see something of your family in this film. More importantly, it will leave you with a feeling of hope for the world, because we all share these family relationships in one way or another.
Yet another reason My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of the best feel-good movies around is that it pokes fun at the characters and their relationships without a touch of nastiness or venom.
This movie absolutely belongs in every family's DVD collection. | |
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