Movie Review: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Story: Does having a hyphenated ethnic identity in America mean you are more colorful than someone who has no hyphenated background? (Insert Irish, Jewish, Italian, Puerto Rican, etc., instead of Greek and you get the point.) The incredible popularity of this small budget ($5,000,000) film has now grossed over $100,000,000 in the last seven months. So, the answer is a resounding OOOPAH! or UUPAH! or WHOOPAH! (I am not at all sure how one would spell that Greek sound of joy.)

I think I might have been one of the last hyphenated Americans to see this film. I was sure I was going to have some deep eyeball-rolls and groans throughout. Well, slap me silly! I enjoyed it. Yes, it was predictable, Yes, it was repetitive. Yes, it was sappy - but I still had a good time. It has some great fun with Greek culture without being mean or too politically incorrect. All you have to do to have a good time watching this film is insert your own relatives or friends into the picture and there is enough joy for everyone. Oh yes, you also need to be able to laugh at yourself.

What's it about? Take a little bit of Cinderella, mix in a bit of Moonstruck or any other story about mixed cultures, acceptance, family and love - and you get the gist of it.

Written by and starring Nia Vardalos, who fortunately got the backing of Tom Hanks and his Greek wife, Rita Wilson and you get one sure fire summer hit.

Acting: Hats off to the entire cast with special mention to Andrea Martin, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine and John Corbett (who hasn't been this good since TV's Northern Exposure).

Critters: Lots of carnivores in this film, but no live critters that I can recall (except maybe at the end).

Food: As would be expected in an ethnic film there was lots and lots of food. And, of course the family owns a Greek Diner.

Visual Art: Some absolutely wonderful tacky stuff.

Blatant Product Placement: Windex has a HUGE hilarious role. I thought it might have been a good idea for the producers to hand out tiny sample WINDEX bottles as you left the theater.

Soundtrack: Funny and a bit sappy.

Opening Titles: I saw the film a while ago and have forgotten this detail.

Theater Audience: Not very crowded - but a bunch of hearty ethnic laughing going on (I was one of the loudest laughers).

Sappy Factor: 5

Predictability Level: 9

Oscar Worthy: No.

Nit Picking: No nits to pick. (I fear I would get too much hate mail on this film.)

Big Screen or Rental: Either. You could also rent some good films about Greeks such as Zorba, or anything starring Melina Mecouri.

Length: Under the 2 hour LOBO rule.

LOBO HOWLS: 7 (I really wanted to give it a 6, but I still am laughing at a few of the jokes - so I added a point).