SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING

"MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING"
(2002) (Nia Vardalos, John Corbett) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	None	Moderate	None	*None

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	None	None	None	Mild

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	None	Mild	Mild	Minor

QUICK TAKE:: Romantic Comedy: An unmarried, 30-year-old woman finds herself falling for a non-Greek man, much to the dismay of her traditional Greek family.

PLOT:

Toula Portokalos (NIA VARDALOS) is an unmarried 30-year-old Greek woman who works with her brother Nick (LOUIS MANDYLOR) at the family restaurant, Dancing Zorba's, run by their parents, Gus (MICHAEL CONSTANTINE) and Maria (LAINIE KAZAN).

Unlike her sister Athena (STAVROULA LOGOTHETTIS) or cousin Nikki (GIA CARIDES), Toula is rather homely in appearance, and never hears the end about not being married with kids, a point that constantly worries Gus who strongly believes that Greek women should marry Greek men, have Greek babies and feed both until they day they die.

Toula wants something more out of life, but is resigned to the fact that things will probably never change. They do, however, when she decides she should go to school so that she can learn computers and work at her Aunt Voula's (ANDREA MARTIN) travel agency. While Maria and Voula manage to convince Gus that that's a good idea, Toula is afraid to tell anyone about the other change in her life.

She's met Ian Miller (JOHN CORBETT), a non-Greek teacher, and fallen in love with him, but fears that her strong family heritage will ultimately undermine their relationship. Ian thinks that's nonsense, but Toula tries to keep their relationship secret from everyone. Word eventually gets out, however, and Ian finds himself meeting Toula's boisterous family, while she gets to meet his far more reserved parents, Rodney (BRUCE GRAY) and Hayley (FIONA REID).

The two eventually agree to marry, and from that point on must contend with how their families react to their relationship, meeting each other, and the pending wedding.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Unless they're fans of someone in the cast, are desirous of seeing any romantic comedy, or are drawn by the story about Greek characters, it's probably not very likely.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For sensuality and language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: NIA VARDALOS plays a single, 30-year-old Greek woman who wants something more out of her life than working in the family restaurant and listening to everyone comment on her not being married. When she finally gets a new job and a boyfriend (with whom she makes out and possibly has sex), she must put up with her parents' negative reaction to her dating a non-Greek.
JOHN CORBETT plays the teacher who falls for Toula, makes out and possibly sleeps with her, and must reassure her that he isn't concerned about how her family is acting and reacting.
MICHAEL CONSTANTINE plays Toula's father who's ultra-proud of his Greek heritage and becomes comically dismayed when she starts dating and plans to marry Ian (although he eventually changes his ways).
LAINIE KAZAN plays his more understanding wife who knows how to manipulate him.
ANDREA MARTIN plays Toula's busybody aunt.
GIA CARIDES plays Toula's big-haired cousin who always sports cleavage and uses some profanity.
JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; JOHN CORBETT plays the teacher who falls for Toula, makes out and possibly sleeps with her, and must reassure her that he isn't concerned about how her family is acting and reacting.
MICHAEL CONSTANTINE plays Toula's father who's ultra-proud of his Greek heritage and becomes comically dismayed when she starts dating and plans to marry Ian (although he eventually changes his ways).
LAINIE KAZAN plays his more understanding wife who knows how to manipulate him.
ANDREA MARTIN plays Toula's busybody aunt.
GIA CARIDES plays Toula's big-haired cousin who always sports cleavage and uses some profanity.
JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; MICHAEL CONSTANTINE plays Toula's father who's ultra-proud of his Greek heritage and becomes comically dismayed when she starts dating and plans to marry Ian (although he eventually changes his ways).
LAINIE KAZAN plays his more understanding wife who knows how to manipulate him.
ANDREA MARTIN plays Toula's busybody aunt.
GIA CARIDES plays Toula's big-haired cousin who always sports cleavage and uses some profanity.
JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; LAINIE KAZAN plays his more understanding wife who knows how to manipulate him.
ANDREA MARTIN plays Toula's busybody aunt.
GIA CARIDES plays Toula's big-haired cousin who always sports cleavage and uses some profanity.
JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; ANDREA MARTIN plays Toula's busybody aunt.
GIA CARIDES plays Toula's big-haired cousin who always sports cleavage and uses some profanity.
JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; GIA CARIDES plays Toula's big-haired cousin who always sports cleavage and uses some profanity.
JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; JOEY FATONE plays one of Toula's many cousins.
LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; LOUIS MANDYLOR plays Toula's brother who works at the restaurant with her and similarly wants something more out of life.
FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).; FIONA REID and BRUCE GRAY play Ian's conservative parents who are initially taken aback by Toula's family. They become intoxicated in one scene (upon the urging of her family to drink).

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a brief summary of the content found in this romantic comedy that's been rated PG. A couple is seen passionately making out in several scenes and is shown in bed together once (she in pajamas, he shirtless), implying sex or fooling around. Some brief, but non-explicit sexually related dialogue is present, as are various views of varying amounts of cleavage.

Profanity consists of some mild expletives, while some colorful phrases are also used. Various characters drink (some to the point of intoxication), and some have bad attitudes (played in a comedic fashion) that are directly related to some comical tense family moments. Beyond that and some brief comical hitting, the rest of the film's categories have little or nothing in the way of major objectionable content.

Nevertheless, should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: We see bottles of liquor along the bar area in the restaurant.
Gus says he doesn't want Toula to go to college because of drugs. Maria then incredulously asks Gus if he thinks Toula would get involved with drugs. He replies that he doesn't, but that someone might ask her to deliver some drug-related package and she'd do it (meaning she'd be oblivious to what she was delivering).
Toula and Ian have wine, as do others in a restaurant.
Toula's grandmother drinks what looks like a beer.
Gus has wine with dinner.
Toula, Ian and his parents have wine with dinner, and then have wine again in a later scene.
Some people drink at a wedding party.
Toula's family brings Ian's parents shots of liquor to drink and then encourage them to have many (and many people all drink shots). After a while, we see and hear the parents' intoxicated point of view.
People have drinks (wine and shots) at a reception, including Ian's parents who have more ouzo (with the mother saying she'll need more of it before she dances and she then has some).

BLOOD/GORE: None.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: It's possible some viewers could see some of the characters and behavior as being that of offensive Greek stereotypes and caricatures, but most if not all of it is played in a loving comic fashion.
Some will see the father as having a bad attitude toward Toula, telling her she should get married soon because she's starting to look old. He also dramatically complains that she's leaving him when she says (at 30) that she wants to go to college, that her seeing Ian is proof of his belief that educating women is a mistake, and doesn't initially support her dating and planning to marry Ian.
In a flashback, some young schoolgirls make fun of young Toula (for being different than them).
Toula tells a white lie to her parents, saying she's taking pottery classes (rather than telling them she's dating Ian that she knows will upset them due to him not being Greek).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: None.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Nick jokes with Ian that he has a gun (that he'll use on him if he disappoints Toula).

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Big ass," "Jack off" (not masturbation related), "Bite me," "Hell of a party," "Ass kicking," "Nads" (testicles), "Nice boobs" and "I have three testicles" (what Ian says in Greek when told the incorrect thing to say - seen in subtitles),
Various Greek people spit on others, including the bride as she passes by for good luck/as a means of warding off the Devil.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 4 asses, 1 slang term for breasts ("boobs" in English subtitles), 1 hell, 6 uses of "Oh my God," 2 of "For God's sakes" and 1 use each of "God" and "Jesus" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: Toula states in voice over narration that her brother had two jobs. One was to cook and the other was to marry a Greek virgin.
Nikki shows varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot) in varying outfits throughout the film, and in one scene, she adjusts her clothed breasts.
Ian and Toula briefly, but somewhat passionately kiss and then do so again in his truck when he drives her home.
The next night, the two make out in his parked truck and we then see more scenes of them doing the same on different nights (passionate kissing, his hands through her hair, etc.).
Ian kisses Toula on the neck in her office and runs his hands along the side of her clothed body.
Ian invites Toula up to his apartment and she accepts. From outside the window, we then see her run and jump on him, kiss him, and then push him down onto an unseen piece of furniture in his place and then get on top of him (all clothed and we don't see anything else).
In a later scene, we see the two in bed (she appears to be wearing pajamas, he's shirtless) with her on her back and him lying further down her body on top of her (so that his head is near her belly). Nothing sexual occurs (although they kiss some more with him all of the way on top of her), but it's implied that they've slept together or fooled around.
We see a classic statue that shows bare breasts.
We see Ian in just his boxers or swimsuit as Nikki spreads oil on him for his baptism in Toula's church.
Maria tells Toula the speech her mother told her before her wedding regarding Greek women being lambs in the kitchen, "but we're tigers in the bedroom." Toula then hopes for that to be the end of her speech.
Various women show some cleavage while getting dressed on the morning of a wedding.

SMOKING: None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Toula's parents (especially her father) are upset that she's dating Ian, but much of that's played for comedy rather than true tense family moments (although they make Toula unhappy).

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: People of different backgrounds falling for each other and then having to deal with their family members' reactions to that.
Ian being baptized into Toula's religion so that they can marry in her church.
Various Greek people spit on others, including the bride as she passes by for good luck/as a means of warding off the Devil.
Nick quoting Dear Abby and saying not to let your past dictate who you are, but rather let it help who you become.

VIOLENCE: Toula's old grandmother hits Gus in the throat (saying he's not going to kidnap her, which he isn't trying to do) and then later elbows him while trying to escape.
Some slapstick style material includes Ian walking by the window of Toula's office and accidentally running into a little old lady who proceeds to hit him repeatedly with her bag, and Toula being yanked to the floor due to her headset snapping her backwards when it runs out of slack as she walks away from her desk.
After Nick jokingly gets Ian to say, "Nice boobs" in Greek rather than what he intended, both Gus and Maria smack Nick on the head.

Reviewed May 6, 2002 / Posted May 10, 2002

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