My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

27 Jul 2007 12:59 PM

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is one of the best romantic comedies to come out of the last decade. Written by Nia Vardalos as a commentary on what's good and not so good about being Greek, she also stars as the main character, Toula Portokalos.

Toula's family owns and operates a Greek restaurant called "Dancing Zorba's." Their lives revolve around food, dancing, eating, running the restaurant, eating, huge family gatherings, and eating. They're a very tight and interconnected family, but there are times when Toula feels they're a little too tight. Everyone knows everyone else's business, and it's just assumed that because she's thirty and single, she'll stay with her parents forever and care for them in their old age.

But Toula wants more. Finally winning a long battle with her father, she takes some college courses to learn how to run the computer. Feeling like she finally has a goal and a future, she begins to take better care of herself, by dressing nicer, fixing her hair, and putting more effort into her makeup. Her self-esteem begins to rise and she no longer feels like a frumpy, unwanted woman.

She takes a job at her aunt's travel agency, and one day the most gorgeous man goes walking past and sees her through the window. She's seen him before - he came into the restaurant, but she was awkward and shy, and couldn't say two words to him. Now she's feeling more confident, but still makes a fool out of herself - but he finds her charming.

His name is Ian Miller (John Corbett) and he's not Greek. Toula sneaks out to meet him, and as their relationship grows, she realizes that she's head over heels in love with him. But her father has always wanted her to marry a Greek, and she knows she'll be breaking her father's heart when she accepts Ian's proposal.

We then head into hysterical wedding plans, with poofy lavender bridesmaid dresses, invitations with Greek symbols on them, and a reception center that looks like the Parthenon. All of it doesn't matter, though - they're in love and want to be together. Ian even gets baptized into the Greek Orthodox Church so Toula can get married where she's always dreamed.

While this is a very romantic movie, there isn't any romantic conflict - their relationship goes smoothly. The conflict comes in with her family, and how they deal with the break in tradition. The bottom line is, when you love someone, you learn to accept their choices, even if they aren't what you'd choose for them.

You will laugh your head off all through this film, which was rated PG.

Side note: You'll recognize Joey Fatone as Angelo, Toula's cousin.

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Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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