Filmmaker Nia Vardalos wrote the 2002 rom-com “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” based off the real life tomfoolery of her own very large, very proud Greek family. Vardalos would write and star in the movie, teaming with director Joel Zwick, with the result being the literal definition of a perfect romantic comedy.
I don’t think I’ve laughed harder at a movie in recent memory than I did while watching this gem. It boasts the simplicity in tone, texture, fashion, and sound of something born in the previous decades. Its plot is typical and predictable, and yet it still works exceptionally well. It’s an indie film, and I think the limited budget and scope of talent is what makes it truly shine. Nia Vardalos was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (losing to an arthouse film no one has ever heard of), and it’s a deserving nomination.
Toula Portokalos has just turned 30 years old, and as such, needs to meet and marry a Greek man, stat. Toula lives at home with her feisty parents and younger brother, all of which work for the family owned Greek restaurant. “You should be proud to be Greek!” Her father barks at every turn. Hysterical flashbacks show us her life as a child; growing up with her overbearing and wild family in each aspect of her existence. We often get the over the top stereotypical family from Italian or Jewish heritages, and it’s nice to see other clans being just as prideful.
“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” follows Toula, and she’s a thoroughly lovable character. She’s the middle child, sandwiched between perfect older sister Athena (Stavroula Logothettis) and only son Nikos (Louis Mandylor). At the onset of the film, she’s slovenly in appearance, and in a way that mirrors transformations in movies like “She’s All That” and The Princess Diaries,” gets a new look that finds her strikingly adorable. Nia Vardalos is fantastic in the part. Hysterical as she juggles issues with her family, vulnerable and properly emotional at times as well. She’s lonely, despite being constantly surrounded by a seemingly endless group of relatives, and it’s a very believable performance.
Where the movie works so well is its casting. Authentic Greek and ethnic actors and actresses make the Portokalos’ look like a real family. Father Gus (Michael Constantine) and mother Maria (Lainie Kazan) are loveable in a cantankerous sort of way. The conflict arises when Toula starts dating a non-Greek vegetarian named Ian Miller (John Corbett), against the strong desires of her family. It’s a scenario we can all relate to. Whether its heritage, religion, or differences in sexual orientation, wanting to be accepted by the family of a significant other is of the utmost importance. John Corbett is a perfect choice as the love interest. Handsome in a realistic way, Corbett has made a name for himself in popular television shows of the 90s ‘Northern Exposure’ and ‘Sex and the City.’ Ian Miller comes from a family that is very small, and the polar opposite of the Portokalos’, which makes him a funny attempt at fitting in.
We open ‘Fall in Love with February’ with an outstanding movie that resonates on every level of what a romantic comedy film should be. This is easily in my Top 50 favorite films. I’ll check out the 2016 sequel next year.
