Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Nia Vardalos | ... | Toula Portokalos | |
Michael Constantine | ... | Gus Portokalos | |
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Christina Eleusiniotis | ... | Toula Portokalos - Age 6 |
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Kaylee Vieira | ... | Schoolgirl |
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John Kalangis | ... | Greek Teacher |
Lainie Kazan | ... | Maria Portokalos | |
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Marita Zouravlioff | ... | Toula Portokalos - Age 12 |
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Sarah Osman | ... | Athena Portokalos - Age 15 |
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Petra Wildgoose | ... | Car Pool Friend |
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Melissa Todd | ... | Car Pool Friend |
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Bess Meisler | ... | Yiayia |
Andrea Martin | ... | Aunt Voula | |
Louis Mandylor | ... | Nick Portokalos | |
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Gerry Mendicino | ... | Uncle Taki |
Stavroula Logothettis | ... | Athena |
Toula Portokalos is 30, Greek, and works in her family's restaurant, Dancing Zorba's, in Chicago. All her father Gus wants is for her to get married to a nice Greek boy. But Toula is looking for more in life. Her mother convinces Gus to let her take some computer classes at college (making him think it's his idea). With those classes under her belt, she then takes over her aunt's travel agency (again making her father think it's his idea). She meets Ian Miller, a high school English teacher, WASP, and dreamboat she had made a fool of herself over at the restaurant; they date secretly for a while before her family finds out. Her father is livid over her dating a non-Greek. He has to learn to accept Ian; Ian has to learn to accept Toula's huge family, and Toula has to learn to accept herself. Written by Jon Reeves <jreeves@imdb.com>
i usually hate dissing the other reviewers on these things because everyone is entitled to their opinions, but, even though they usually frustrate me, i always read the reviews to gauge how a movie affects the mainstream public, as i think that's usually the most important thing to be considered.
i just finished commenting on 'the rules of attraction', and it surprised me to see how there were more positive comments about that film than this one. it also surprised me to see that most of the negative reviews of this film talked about how they were 'bored' by this movie, or how nia vardalos is 'ugly', or how this film is only for 'women' or 'old people'.
granted, this movie has very little sex, violence, or MTV editing, but it does what most movies try to do and fail at doing; creates an engaging story with interesting characters. however, it's sad to see that this quality apparently doesn't carry much currency anymore, and that people can't deal with humor that's not shoved in their face or isn't right there on the surface.
the ironic thing about this is that MBFGW isn't even that innovative or unique. it takes the normal three act romantic comedy structure and, well, dehollywoodizes it a little bit. yeah, the main characters aren't typical hollywood hot. (well, john corbett is...) but you probably aren't either. and all these people commenting on how it's 'racist' or 'stereotyped'... nia vardalos, the writer, IS GREEK! this film is adapted from her one woman show! it's interesting that 'ethnic' films have to take on, what, a documentary form or something to seem authentic? if anything is racist, that is.
it's super that 11,000 people have voted on this film and that it grossed so much $$. even though, when it comes down to it, this is just a "better" romantic comedy which stays in the box for much of the time, it IS, indeed, better than most movie fare out there and its popularity gives me hope that the "boring" movies with "ugly" people may have a chance with the jaded tards of middle america.