Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Imagine, if you will, Dooley Wilson from Casablanca crooning this:

You know of this I speak
A greek is still a geek,
A white guy is just a guy,
The fundamental traits apply
As love says hi.

And when two lovers woo
They'll know not what to do,
For laughs you can rely,
No matter if your parents cry
As love says hi.

Teasing and leaving
Out on a date
Hearts full of passion
Then filled with ache,
Woman taunts man
So man must make her his mate
It's love you can't deny!

It's still the same old story,
A wedding in all its glory,
I do until I die!
Opposites can still get married
As love says hi.


Thoughts On The Movie


My Big Fat Greek Wedding may be considered a "chick flick," but then why did my biker sweetie all on his own decide to take his dad to it for his dad's birthday and enjoy it very much? He called it a great comedy, making fun of Greeks, but not romantic at all. I think it's funny and rather charming as a woman for I could identify all too well with the Greek woman's gawking reaction on first meeting the white guy, played as foxily as only John Corbett (Northern Exposure, Sex and the City) can do. I, too, would freeze like a deer caught in headlights and unable to avoid collision with his charisma.

Toula, played with heart and spunk by Nia Vardalos, who also wrote the story, undergoes a major overhaul in her appearance and self-esteem by going back to school and moving beyond waitressing at her family's restaurant. As luck would have it, that guy who sparked life into her happens to stroll past her office window and it's his turn to ogle her!

Love develops quickly in a series of getting-to-know-you dates with Ian (Corbett) trying to draw Toula out of her shyness and insecurity. Her inexperience really shows, but soon she breaks out upon freedom of his apartment and they are talking marriage. Her parents are aghast at the news, his parents are surprised. The rest of the movie follows them through the baptism of Ian into her Greek Orthodox church, the wackiness of her huge family, his bewildered parents, the beautiful wedding and reception.

I don't know anything about Greeks and didn't even hang around sorority guys or girls in college. The portrayal of the Greeks believing in Windex as a cure-all, wanting their daughter to marry a Greek and make Greek babies, being part of the mafia and so proud of their heritage that their house looks like a Greek museum to all who pass by seems very light-hearted and fun. It's not making them look pathetic like Sweet Home Alabama did Southerners because they all revel or learn to revel in life as it is and not how it was.

Sure, it's predictable without any suspense and most romantic comedies have the couples panicking and doing something stupid, but My Big Fat Greek Wedding has a more mature couple who really are in love. I laughed, smiled and envied Toula for the abiding love of a good man like Ian.

Rated PG, this comedy also stars Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan and Andrea Martin. Joel Zwick has directed dozens of winning TV shows since the 70s, so perhaps it felt more like a tame movie-of-the-week (it's been made into a TV show), but it still was very entertaining, especially for females, but even for guys like my sweetie!


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD