Vacances à la grecque

Sorry, Nia. I'm a fan....but this movie falls pretty flat. The comedy writing is contrived and predictable. There were some laugh out loud moments. But they were too few and far between. Most of the characters are cardboard cut-outs. They are unbelievable and obnoxious. And the story? Well, we've seen it a million times before. Richard Dreyfuss is the HIGHLIGHT of this film. It is in scenes with Nia and Dreyfuss that the movie shines. The scene at the beach was so brief but so powerful...Dreyfuss makes the most of those brief moments. The scenery,however,is fantastic! To see the ruins of Greece on the big screen...what a treat. Overall, I felt this movie was trying way too hard to be funny....much like the tour guide in the movie. Wait for it to come out on video.

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.

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.

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.

My Life in Ruins is corny, clichéd, predictable and a totally fun way to spend an afternoon. Every now then a movie will come along and change your life. This is not one of those movies. It is not highly original or well acted but it is a funny and feel good film. My Life in Ruins is about tour guide Georige (Nia Vardalos) who is bored with her job, disappointed with life and generally just too uptight. Thanks to a tour passenger Irv (Richard Deyfuss) who takes on a guardian angel role and a sexy "ugly swan" bus driver (Alexis Georgoulis), Georgie begins to look at life on a whole new level. Some of this movie is a little one dimensional. The Australian tourist whose singular role in the movie is to prove no one can understand us and that we like drinking way too much were a little corny. However, none of this stops the movie from being funny, fun and really entertaining. Vardolos continues to be a delight on screen and her co-star Alexis Georgoulis is really really hot. My advice is see this film, take along some high fat snacks and don't feel guilty about either. After all, as the film preaches life is too short to do anything else.