Mi vida en ruinas

I saw this film at a screening and it was fun and made me laugh and remember why we go to the movies-to be entertained. It's a timeless sweet and romantic story, with a lot of humorous moments throughout. The cast is centered by the talented Nia Vardalos, who effortlessly brings a very different, yet still enjoyable, character to life than in previous films. As Georgia, Vardalos once again displays her uncanny ability to portray a relatable character, and reinforces why we love her. The supporting cast was also great, and their characters were so real and typical and funny that I felt like this was written about a tour bus I was once on. I'm sure many people have either encountered people like them before or are related to someone like them. Alexis G, the bus driver was like a modern Greek God, and I couldn't believe his talent as an actor actually matched his good looks.

Anyone who sees this film will find something to laugh at, because the humor in this film can be appreciated no matter where you're from. And following them along their journey through the astoundingly beautiful Greece and it's historic sights, is icing on the cake. Not only would it be worth the price of the movie ticket to see this movie, but it might just make you want to buy a ticket to Greece. I know it made me want to.

Georgia (Nia Vardalos) went to Greece to teach at a university but ended up giving tours of the islands instead, due to unforeseen circumstances. She sends off resumes each week, looking for another professorship, but, until then, she tries to enlighten the tourists about the grandeur of Greece. They want none of it, usually, as they would rather shop or bask on the beaches. One day, Georgia gets a new driver, Poupi, a scruffy-looking Greek, and a new group of stereotypical tourists. These include Irv (Richard Dreyfuss), an American widower with a knack for making jokes, a frequently-tipsy couple from Australia, two scantily-dressed, Spanish women looking for rich husbands, and so on. As usual, they have no interest in Greek ruins but do like the "genuinely fake" Greek souvenirs. How will Georgia endure this without going stark raving mad? And, is Poupi hiding a handsome exterior and a kind interior under his beard? This is an enjoyable film for fans of romantic comedy but it is by no means especially memorable. That's not Vardalos' fault for she has great comedic skills and Dreyfuss does a good job, too. Its more the lack of a surefire script and direction, for it is funny in spots but not-so-funny in others and it has a far too-leisurely pace, at times. On the plus side, however, the scenery of the Greek Isles is very beautiful and the costuming and camera work are quite, quite nice. All in all, if you love funny tales of love, this one will most likely be a good time for you and yours. But, it is not in the same category as this year's wonderful New in Town so, if you don't go with unreasonably high expectations, you will have fun.

Has anyone seen the 1969 movie "If this is Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium?". " My life in Ruins"-what an excellent if corny title- is much the same theme. The film could have been serialised in Mad magazine. No, it is not a great movie but good light entertainment not to be taken seriously. I dwell in Greece and like Nia I am a Greek Canadian, we both speak Greek fluently enough but with a bad accent. I have never taken a bus tour in Greece but have Canadian friends who did and have told me of similar experiences as those shown in the movie. My one and only experience as a tourist on a bus full of Torontonians and Montrealers was in Mexcio in 1977 and it was pretty much the same. A crazy and life threatening driver called Pedro, a funny guide Pepe who realised we all wanted more humour than education about the Mexican ruins etc "Thees was where the thee pipi room was. You know, when the Aztecs they wanna make pipi". My Life in Ruins spares nobody be they Greek, American, Canadian, Spanish, British or Australian. I think it would be hard to appreciate the comedy for anyone who has never visited Greece or ever been part of a tourist bus group and laugh as much as I did. That's the thing about comedies, probably the most difficult of all movie genres; one has to relate to the situation and to the characters. I would put My Life in Ruins on a par with My Big Fat Greek Wedding (though not the later TV show which was a disaster).

The critics are fair, the posibilities to make a better film , using admirable actors, are many. but..., against not the best script, cliches, thin stories, flat characters, it is a nice film. and that is, in fact, the most important thing. because it is the film of Nia Vardalos, saving many scenes, it is occasion for Richard Dreyfuss to give a lovely character and , for viewer, it is a modest opportunity to meet a sketch of Greece, a sort of love story and the effort of team to do reasonable film about vacation and its people. and, maybe, it is enough. for a nice result who, being, at the first sigh only an improvisation, could be defined as version of "My Big Greek Wedding".

This movie reminded me of If it's Tuesday this must be Belgium. I would say they are similar in quality and subject matter (romance on a tour bus with wacky tourists as comedy relief). The romance was a bit better in Belgium and maybe the movie overall but they are close. Low brow clichéd comedy in both and while Belgium does Western Europe Ruins is set in Greece. The cinematography is better in Ruins so if you like pretty pictures take a trip with Vardalos and company. The movie isn't awful and I would classify it as a pleasant time waster of a summer movie but that is it. It is the type of movie you wait to arrive on DVD, cable or regular TV. Nevertheless the crowd I saw it with at an advance screening clapped at the end so there are some as other user comments attest to that really liked it.