Sunday, September 20, 2009

My Big Fat Greek Wedding


Plot Overview

“My big fat Greek wedding” is a romantic comedy film. It was released in 2002 and it was a really successful movie due to its content, bringing so much fun and meaningful lessons to the viewers about family, love and life.


This movie is about Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos. She is a Greek – American woman who falls in love with an American man named Ian Miller.

Toula is thirty years old and she is the only one unmarried so her family worries. In contrast to her sister Athena, Toula is clumsy and quiet. Her parents expect her to marry a Greek man, have Greek babies and feed everyone until the day she dies. Her father Koastas “Gus” Portokalos keeps saying that Toula should get married soon because she looks so old. In spite of that, she is still working in the family restaurant called “Dancing Zorbas” with her parents and her brother – Nick.



However one day at the restaurant, Toula meets Ian Miller for the first time and then she has a crush on him at first sight. She even changes her appearance soon after that.


She applies for a computer course and then works at her aunt – Voula’s agency.



Toula feels much better in her new job, especially when she notices that Ian is hanging around looking at her through the window. They finally get to know each other and begin dating.


Everything is fine until the day that her family know about it. Her father – Gus refuses that Ian dates his daughter and he wants to stop them because Ian is not Greek. Unfortunately, Gus is late because they already fall in love with each other and Ian proposes, Toula accepts and Gus was forced to accept their relationship.






The wedding day is celebrated with hysteria and liveliness. Everyone goes to the reception and has fun, especially the Millers. They begin to enjoy the Greek partying lifestyle and drinking “ouzo”. Gus gives a speech accepting Ian and the Millers as family.

Toula’s parents buy a house for the couple as a wedding gift, the house just next door to their house. In the end of the movie, it shows that Ian and Toula have a daughter that they raise her in Greek style.


This movie was shot in the beginning of the twenty-first century in Chicago. The script was written by Nia Vardalos who plays the character Toula Partokalos in the movie.


Character profiles


Toula Portokalos – the main character. She is a thirty years old Greek woman and unmarried.




Ian Miller – an American man who loves Toula and marries her.


Gus Portokalos – Toula’s father.


Maria Portokalos – Toula's mother.

Aunt Voula – Toula’s aunt.
and
Athena Portokalos – Toula’s older sister.

Nick Portokalos – Toula’s younger brother.

The Millers couple – Ian’s parents.



Movie Reviews

This movie is a slow pace story. Toula is the narrator in this movie because she tells about her love and it is in past tense. English and some Greek words are used in this movie. It makes “My big fat Greek wedding” more attractive with different culture such as Greek people live in American in this movie.

I really enjoyed this movie. I have an unforgettable impression about the content and characters. I am impressed with some Greek words such as “portokalos" means orange, “opa” and the strange way in speaking English of the father Gus or the mum Maria or some interesting quotes such as “Marry Greek boys, make Greek babies and feed everyone until the day we die”, “we are different, but in the end, we are all fruit” or “Greek women, we may be lambs in the kitchen but we are tigers in the bedroom”. Especally, one common thing goes through this movie is "Windex".




The plot is interesting, simple but meaningful. It is truthful in a normal life. I realize how important and how necessary family and love are for everyone in their lives, including me. By the way, I really like “My big fat Greek wedding” and thank my teacher for showing me it.