It's all Greek to me
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Review by Ross Anthony

A 30-year-old Greek woman still living with mom and dad and hostessing at the family restaurant decides it's time to buck the tradition. She gets contacts, a new hairstyle, more attractive clothes and enrolls in a few computer classes eventually stumbling in love with a non-Greek. Their romance causes waves throughout the whole extended family of loud, loving kin. In perfectly delightful contrast the boyfriend's proper, screamingly quiet, parents find meeting potential in-laws to be an extreme sport.

The film starts slow, drab even, hoping a few cute ethnic caricatures will start the ball rolling. Fortunately, the pace enjoys a very gradual, but nonetheless determined incline. Unfortunately, a blossoming rite of passage story plays second fiddle to the overwhelming bustling drive to a loud Greek wedding. The latter hosts some good chuckles and warm fuzzy moments.

"You better get married; you're starting to look old," her Greek father shakes his head, sprays his arm with Windex and proceeds to claim that any word has Greek origin.

Fearing a continued dreary future the daughter frets, "I'm way passed my expiration date."

While I found the film averagely entertaining, my friend loved it, and so did another friend I ran into on the way. He said, "I've seen it three times!" Perhaps my upbringing in a similarly loud Mediterranean family squelched any shocking moments of surprise for me.



  • My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Copyright © 2002. Rated PG.
  • Starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor. Directed by Joel Zwick.
  • Written by Nia Vardalos (based on her play).
  • Produced by Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman at IFC/Gold Circle/HBO/MPH/Playtone.



Grade..........................B



Copyright © 2001. Ross Anthony, currently based in Los Angeles, has scripted and shot documentaries, music videos, and shorts in 35 countries across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. For more reviews visit: RossAnthony.com


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Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 08:04:00 PDT