My Big Fat Greek Wedding on DVD

Probably the biggest sleeper hit of 2002, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is an enjoyable comedy, kind of an American version of the “Waking Ned Devine” and “The Full Monty,” genre of British comedy.

Which means it’s clever and well done and makes you laugh without embarrassment because there’s no cheap, or bathroom, humor to be found - and it has a lot of heart.

“Wedding” tells the story of Toula, a thirty year old woman of Greek ancestry who lives at home, works in her father’s restaurant, and has no life to speak of outside of her Greek-to-the-roots family. She’s a bit of an plain Jane as the film opens, though as the cliché goes she has a great personality. And she’s suffocating under her Greek culture and her “non-life.”

Her family doesn’t help. They think that, at thirty, she’s over the hill and may never snag a good Greek boy, which is what life is all about - and in the end she doesn’t, though Toula also knows deep inside her that she’s nowhere near the top of the hill, let alone beyond it.

So she decides to change her life. She gives herself a new, much less “frumpy” look, takes a college course, and gets a job in her aunt’s travel agency.

The rest, as they say, is history. She meets Ian, again, a handsome teacher (John Corbett) who, though they never really met formally before, was attracted to her gentle wit back at the restaurant. He doesn’t recognize her now at first, but is attracted just as he was before.

From here it’s part love story, and part culture clash as Ian falls in love with Toula and they get engaged - at which time Ian has to learn to love the Greeks and their culture as well. This leads to plenty of funny and touching moments as the worlds not so much collide but as the gentle and decent Ian allows himself to be swallowed up by Toula’s large family and their way of life.

Some other nice, funny “fish out of water” moments come from Ian’s family as they meet and party with Toula’s relatives.

The situations border on the stereotypical, but there’s so much warmth and depth to the characters that it never gets excessively schmaltzy, and this is good. In the end, as mentioned above, we have one of those classic comedies anyone can enjoy and you go away from it feeling warmly entertained.

And if you're a WASP who's married into an ethnic family, you may find a lot here that's familiar!

Nia Vardalos, as Toula, really carries the movie, but there are plenty of strong character actors surrounding her, playing the strong characters who populate Nia’s world. Chief among these are Michael Constantine as Nia’s Windex-wielding father, Lainie Kazan as her mother, and Andrea Martin as her crazy Aunt Voula. This list merely scratches the surface of the ensemble cast. Also worth mention, besides Corbett of course - who plays his part with gentle dignity - are Fiona Reid and Bruce Gray as Ian’s parents.

The DVD is pretty good. It’s offered in anamorphic widescreen, 16x9 TV compatible, and while the picture is a tad soft it’s still eminently enjoyable. It’s also apparently offered in a separate Pan&Scan version, but we’d recommend buying the widescreen one if you’re ever planning to replace your television. Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 and it’s fine, though there isn’t a lot of surround.

We should note that there's a damn commercial at the beginning of the movie - a Windex commercial that is at least appropriate for the film and which is also quite witty in a home video way. But we hope this isn't a trend. If we want commercials we'll watch TV or go to a movie theater.

For extras you get a running commentary by writer/star Vardalos, co-star Corbett, and director Joel Zwick, cast bios, and some trailers.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding, from Warner Home Video
95 min. anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 TV compatible, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
Starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, with Andrea Martin and Joey Fatone
Produced by Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman
Written by Nia Vardalos, Directed by Joel Zwick

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