Probably because of its similar name, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," written by and starring Second City alumnus Nia Vardalos, has drawn early comparisons to "My Best Friend's Wedding," and that can only mean that viewers aren't valuing it highly.
But don't be fooled. Vardalos' story of growing up Greek in Chicago and finding a way to balance her old world culture and new world life is funny, fun and a little touching. This reviewer liked it even though it also stars John Corbett, that annoying radio DJ from television's "Northern Exposure."
Toula (Vardalos) is a plain, unappealing 30-year-old Greco-American girl still living with her immigrant parents and working as a hostess at Dancing Zorba's, the family restaurant. Her father, who champions his heritage with regular recitations of the Greek roots of English words, a house designed to resemble the parthenon and a huge Greek flag on the garage door, wants nothing in life but for Toula to get married to a Greek boy and have lots of Greek babies.
When Toula convinces her parents to let her take computer classes at a local college, she undergoes a transforming makeover and trades her job as a hostess for one as a travel agent at her aunt's agency.
{INSERT_RELATED}A local teacher passes the shop and makes eye contact with Toula, which rapidly grows into a halting relationship. Toula can only take tentative steps with Ian Miller (Corbett), because, after all, he's not Greek. He is an only child with extremely reserved parents. Toula wonders how her extended family (she has 27 first cousins) will ever accept Ian.
But it doesn't matter. They fall in love and everyone must accept change. Not least of all Toula and Ian, who need to balance their relationship with each other with their relationships with their families. (Ian is a vegetarian! Try explaining that to Toula's family. When aunt Voula invites them over to dinner, Toula says Ian doesn't eat meat. "That's OK," says Voula. "I'll make lamb!")
Loaded with stereotypes of all kinds, from the raucous, hairy, tacky Portokalos family (they're all named Nick!) to the ponderous, dull Millers who appear to almost always be on the verge of tears (or sleep), Vardalos' film is also hilarious thanks in large part to Toulas' parents Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan) and her aunt Voula (Andrea Martin).
The story is nothing terribly new and some of the stereotypes are threadbare, but the film is personal and Vardalos inspires with her ability to finally appreciate the importance of her family and the way she manages to strike a balance and build her own new life within the confines of tradition.
Little girls will be happy to know that N*Sync's Joey Fatone has a role as Toula's cousin and star-spotters will note that Tom Hanks co-produces with Rita Wilson.
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" opens Fri., May 10 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre. Click here for showtimes.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
