My Big Fat Greek Wedding **** (2002, Nia Vardalos, John Corbett) – Classic Movie Review 517

The big fat Greek family of Chicago 30something Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) is scandalised when she wants to wed the non-Greek hunk Ian Miller (John Corbett from TV’s Sex and the City) in director Joel Zwick‘s really funny, life-affirming, feel-good 2002 sitcom. It was the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time, earning almost $370 million on a $6 million budget, and the second most profitable film of all time after Paranormal Activity.

The vivacious Vardalos is a delight as the ugly duckling who becomes the graceful swan as she grabs her last best chance of happiness. Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan have a comic field day as her parents Gus and Maria. Only some of the stereotypes in the script’s characters let the movie down.

This is a fairy tale with a happy ending both on and off screen: with no big stars to boost it, it’s taken an astonishing $241million at the US cinema box-office and £13million in the UK.

Vardalos wrote the fun-driven, Oscar-nominated screenplay, based on her own stage play. Happily, Tom Hanks’s actress wife, Rita Wilson, saw the play and recommended that her husband produce a movie version. Vardalos claims she hung up when Hanks called, because she thought it wasn’t really him.

All those on the bride’s side at the wedding are members of Vardalos’s family. Her husband Ian Gomez plays Ian’s best friend Mike.

In November 2014 it was announced that Universal Pictures will distribute a belated sequel, with Vardalos reprising her role as Toula and as screenwriter, and with Nanny McPhee helmer Kirk Jones as director. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 was released on 25 March 2016 in the UK.

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 517

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