Vacances à la grecque

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".

Early voters are being a little to hard on this feel-good romantic comedy/Greek travel infomercial. Nia Vardolos is a Greek-American expatriate in Greece, overqualified and unhappy with her temporary job as a tour guide. Nia rolls her pretty eyes at the prospect of entertaining a tacky crew of caricatured tourists, which include Richard Dreyfuss as a jokester and Rachel Dratch as an absurd American. Alexis Georgoulis is their hairy driver.

The jokes are pretty hit and miss, with mostly hits after the bus gets rolling a bit. This is a warm, accessible, and engaging film, that will satisfy fans of MBFGW who do not burden the film with too much in the way of expectation.

For a romantic comedy it fits the bill, it has romance and it has comedy. Enjoyable characters and plenty happening throughout the film. Throw in a bit of Greek scenery and some Greek music and you have a very pleasant movie.

For the past week it feels like Greece cannot stop talking about this film! I was lucky enough to be invited by a friend to the world premiere in Athens (am Greek-American, grew up in Baltimore, married here, so living in Athens for about five years.) The Premiere was an elegant occasion with a private reception with delicious food. The audience of about 1500 people went crazy for this film. They laughed and laughed and clapped and everyone I talked to said they wanted to see it again. This movie has captured the joy of life in this country I love. But just like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you don't have to be Greek to like it. It is such a funny movie and beautiful to look at. All the actors do a great job and Nia and Alexis are very romantic together. When they look at each other, you actually believe they're a couple (I know they're not!!) Just like with the first movie, I know Greeks can laugh at themselves (I was there, I heard them laughing like crazy!! Of course, there are always insecure people in this world but I think those type of people get offended by anything so who cares?) so I am sure the movie will do well here, and also in every country because it is a movie about tourists and traveling and being able to fall in love when you think there isn't a chance for you anymore. All I can say is, once again, Vardalos got it right."

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.