ViewGuide

Created Jan 07, 2012 03:31PM PST • Edited Jun 15, 2019 04:32PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   A Miss Lonelyhearts gets her fantasy fulfilled, delivers an appealing ethnic story and is genuinely funny. That winning combo makes Nia Vardalos’ Big Fat Greek Wedding a smart, family-friendly comedy.

   Greek-American, Italian-American, Jewish-American, Albanian-American, we all bob around in the great American melting pot. So we understand the temptations and perils of assimilation that MBFGW spoofs.

   Thus it’s not Greek to us. It’s American.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Nia Vardalos peaked playing a semi-autobiographical version of herself. Gotta hand it to the gal, she did it her way. Conceived it, wrote it, starred in it.

   John Corbett is quietly appealing as her whitebread fantasy. From Northern Exposure onwards, he’s always been the epitome of easy-going presence.

   Michael Constantine & Lainie Kazan are fine as old-school Greek parents. Grown kids of a certain age will recognize Constantine from Room 222.

   Other notables:

   • Louis Mandylor is distinctive as the Greek son who gets away with anything. And no, he’s not his brother Costas Mandylor.
   • Gia Carides is sexy and funny as a sassy cousin
   • Joey Fatone fits right in as another cousin. The Fat One represents!

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    Think of it as movie comfort food – big fat movie comfort food.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play Good 3.0

    Funny.

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5

    Gotta love the Portokalos house, Greek columns galore.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.7

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.4

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.7

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0