Nia Vardalos was virtually unknown until she did My Big Fat Greek Wedding back in 2002. In that film, she was outstanding as Toula Portokalos, a young Greek woman who falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him.
She shines again as an American tour guide of Greek ancestry in My Life in Ruins.
Nia brings a certain something to her roles that makes her win our hearts. She is charming, humorous, self-deprecating, and socially inept....which make us, the viewers, want to reach out and help her find her way. When she smiles, the world seems to brighten.
In My Life, she is frustrated by being a high-end, culturally-oriented tour guide for tourists who prefer ice cream and souvenirs over viewing the Parthenon. No spoiler here, but we can safely disclose a bit more about the plot: On her "last" tour, she bonds with some wonderful, wacky tourists who help her discover a lighter side of herself. Of course, she also falls in love with a dashing Greek man!
Lest my illustrious readers believe that the film is a masterpiece, I would add my dear spouse's one-line description: STUPID! Yes indeed, there is much to mock in this light-weight caper. The tourists are stereotyped, the portraits are superficial, and the tone is sophomoric.
But if you like nice scenes of Greece, care to smile at the antics of tourists, and feel a certain love for Greek people, you will have a wonderful time.
I have happened in on this flick a couple of times lately and can't get through more than a few minutes. Sorry, guess I'm with Bianca on this one. I always adored Richard Dreyfus and his work since The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz; to see him reduced to this type of role is a bummer.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Valerie. You've really got to be in a mindless mood for this one. Maybe after a few drinks??!! Gotta shamefully admit that by the end of the film, I was smiling.
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