My Big Fat Greek Wedding

IFC Films | Release Date: April 19, 2002

7.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 100 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

NerdConsultantApr 12, 2015

i really like this film. it has some really funny moments which will resinate well with people who have regularly visited or lived in Greece. it's not perfect by any means as some of it is slightly grating and i would be lying if i said iti really like this film. it has some really funny moments which will resinate well with people who have regularly visited or lived in Greece. it's not perfect by any means as some of it is slightly grating and i would be lying if i said it didn't fall in to quite a few Romantic Comedy clichés but i'll take it over a lot of those film because it feels like it has a personal charm to it and some excellent jokes . it's also well acted for the most part especially Michael Constantine who gives an excellent and believable performance… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

LeoTs3181983Sep 3, 2010

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a great movie with a great cast. There are some silly moments however,but Nia Vardalos did worse in I Hate Valentine's Day!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

marcmyworksApr 2, 2016

A creative and imaginative film which truly stands the test of time. The love between Tula and Ian is so real and heart-warming that it makes this comedy all the more worthwhile to watch.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

EpicLadySpongeMar 12, 2016

I don't know about the upcoming sequel of this movie that is going against Batman v. Superman in the box office. Whatever the sequel pulls up, it won't be higher than an 8 unless they show me that the sequel's absolutely better than this one.I don't know about the upcoming sequel of this movie that is going against Batman v. Superman in the box office. Whatever the sequel pulls up, it won't be higher than an 8 unless they show me that the sequel's absolutely better than this one. However, I expect a lower rating for the new upcoming movie. This movie quickly brings up laughter just for the best and then suddenly end it sadly.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

ElVulturoJan 25, 2006

Perhaps the worst movie of all time. Awful, awful, awful. I feel like I've been stabbed after watching it. You could write a rather large book about just how terrible this movie is, but for now I'll stick with the Perhaps the worst movie of all time. Awful, awful, awful. I feel like I've been stabbed after watching it. You could write a rather large book about just how terrible this movie is, but for now I'll stick with the 'highlights'. 1. The character of Ian. He's barely human. A walking doormat, bereft of an identity, emotions, or a spine. It's a wonder how he gets out of bed. So your bride to be has a pushy but loving family that won't give her any space. Do you react angrily to their constant demands? Try to instigate a little give and take in the relationship? Gently steer her towars some form of independence? Hell no. You bend over and take it as deep as humanly possible. Baptism? Church Wedding? Completely ignore his own parents? Ditch his best man because he's not Greek? Generally act like a human doormat? No problem! Not once does he get angry, or even question the motives of his new inlaws. So her parents don't want her to marry a non-Greek? His solution, to give up his identity and try to act as Greek as humanly possible. Which brings us to... 2. Stereotypes. Those crazy Greeks! Always with the wackiness! And look at the "ingenious" contrast between their over the top ways and those stiff, uptight Wasps. No doubt hilarity will ensue. One wonders how the write restrained from having Ian have a 'funky' black sidekick who can't help but say "awww helll no" when offered some Ouzo and the one millionth rendition of the Zorba dance. 3. Anti-feminist. The message the family sends to their daughter? You can marry anyone you want (and even then, not really, only if he tries really really really really hard to be as Greek as humanly possible). Not that you can be whatever you want. Or aspire or achieve anything you set your mind to. No. You can marry anyone you want, provided that we still control your life and steamroll your values whenever we choose. At the end of the movie, the father, in a great emotional display, traps his daughter by buying her a house NEXT DOOR. Wow, thanks dad. How unbelievably "out there". 4. It's not funny. If you love "everyone loves Raymond" or "Yes Dear" then you'll love this steaming turd. Witness punchlines you'll see coming a mile off! Enjoy the most tired movie cliches of all time! 5. One dimensional characters. Apart from the female lead, not a single character in this movie felt like a real person. And even then she was only one step above being a spineless automaton. We've got the senile grandma, the prankster brother, the wacky aunt, the overprotective father, the uptight Wasps. I must have missed the scene with the Rabbi, the Irishman, and the thrifty Scot. Conclusion: It's not that you can't have a good comedy based on ethnic and cultural clashes; it's been done a million times before. What's missing here is the clash, any semblance of conflict, or heart, for that matter. You don't have to be making highbrow arthouse cinema to do this well. For example, "Bend It Like Beckham" does much the same thing, only it has the advantage of a good plot, interesting characters and jokes that are actually funny. If I sound bitter, well, guilty as charged. I sat through a nine hour bus ride with this abomination blaring from multiple screens. After the huge box office and all the hype, I was ready to like this film. But it sucks. Terribly, horribly, utterly, completely.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MeghanC.Mar 7, 2003

Funny.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TrishB.Aug 30, 2006

I thought it was very entertaining; a definite "feel good movie'.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MeghanC.Nov 16, 2002

Funny.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SpangleAug 27, 2017

Playing out like a sitcom, complete with musical transitions between scenes, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of those unexpected box office smashes that became a bit of a cultural touchstone. Written by and starring Nia Vardalos asPlaying out like a sitcom, complete with musical transitions between scenes, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of those unexpected box office smashes that became a bit of a cultural touchstone. Written by and starring Nia Vardalos as 30-year-old Greek virgin who is expected to find a nice Greek boy to marry and have kids, the film is an uproariously funny work with sharp wit and great cultural jokes about Toula's (Vardalos) painfully large and Greek family. With a wedding around the corner to American white boy Ian Miller (John Corbett), the Greek family behind Toula must grow to accept this non-Greek into the family over the course of the film's 90 minutes, all while celebrating their Greek heritage throughout. Though perhaps not a great piece of filmmaking, My Big Fat Greek Wedding shows that two things are true: real life is often funny enough on its own and writing what you know yields phenomenal results when done right.

As a comedy about a wedding and an obnoxious family, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is not exactly a deep work. There are some light themes that emerge, but they seem to just pop up out of the circumstances shown in the film, instead of any actual purposeful intent. For example, themes about assimilating into a culture you are unfamiliar with or having to accept the unfamiliar person into your world are both discussed at length due to Ian joining the family, but these are hardly major developments or revelations. Plus, as a comedy, this fish-out-of-water element is played more for comedy than any semblance of thematic nuance. That is not an issue, mind you, but this is certainly not a film with a lot of substance. Rather, it is one that exists purely to entertain and make you laugh, which makes it a tough film review to rate. At which point does one recognize there are faults in this film - the televisual feel that is pervasive in the film and the bad acting, namely - and still recognize that the film nailed all of its stated goals.

Personally, I prefer to head towards the latter when it comes to films such as this. Consistently funny, smarted scripted, and capable of making fun of a culture in the way that only those who are a part of that culture can, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is an absolutely hysterical film. It is one of those few films that nails jokes throughout with no sign of letting up. Often times, these joke-a-minute films start to lose steam at a certain point, but this never does by retaining the same wit throughout, as well as the correct running gags (Windex). As a romance film, the "meet cute" moments are cliche to be sure, but still effective in putting a big, goofy smile on your face. It is a cheesy and sugary romance, but rings with authenticity and realism due to the problems faced by this cute couple in advancing their relationship to marriage. Never overstaying its welcome with the comedy or the romance, the short runtime allows the best moments of both to stay in with the film feeling rather stream-lined and focused, never straying into subplots or bloat that could have rendered it a far worse film.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a quintessential example of using the romantic comedy formula to your advantage with a funny, smart, and cheesily romantic work. It may be predictable and cliche, but it shows why those cliches became cliches in the first place. A charmer from beginning to end, the film is a guiltless pleasure.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

lukechristianscMar 24, 2016

The script by Nia Vardalos who also stars in this, is very funny and manages to get a few chuckles but personally I thought the humor here is cheap, it's charming not to mention has a big heart also Vardalos has good chemistry with herThe script by Nia Vardalos who also stars in this, is very funny and manages to get a few chuckles but personally I thought the humor here is cheap, it's charming not to mention has a big heart also Vardalos has good chemistry with her co-star John Corbett. Nia Vardalos stars also wrote the script, anyway she plays Toula, she's thirty and works at her family's restaurant Dancing Zorba's owned by her two Greek parents Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan). Her family worries that she won't be married. After she takes a job at her aunt's travel agency she falls in love with Ian Miller (John Corbett) a teacher, who's tall and handsome but not Greek, which makes her dad angry because everyone in the family is married to someone who's Greek but not Toula. 3 out of 5 stars… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

alejandro970May 14, 2022

What's wrong with an intercultural marriage? What makes this romantic comedy attractive is how it solves that question and with a lot of style, without clichés that smell of corny. To see with no more pretense than to have fun and learn whatWhat's wrong with an intercultural marriage? What makes this romantic comedy attractive is how it solves that question and with a lot of style, without clichés that smell of corny. To see with no more pretense than to have fun and learn what other practical uses the window cleaning liquid has.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

esmeh99Apr 22, 2023

great film, very much enjoyed and is a light watch that the whole family can enjoy

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews