My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

Director:

Joel Zwick

Writer:

Nia Vardalos

Stars:

Nia Vardalos, Michael Constantine, Christina Eleusiniotis

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 16 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nia Vardalos	...	Toula Portokalos
Michael Constantine	...	Gus Portokalos
Christina Eleusiniotis	...	Toula Portokalos - Age 6
Kaylee Vieira	...	Schoolgirl
John Kalangis	...	Greek Teacher
Lainie Kazan	...	Maria Portokalos
Marita Zouravlioff	...	Toula Portokalos - Age 12
Sarah Osman	...	Athena Portokalos - Age 15
Petra Wildgoose	...	Car Pool Friend
Melissa Todd	...	Car Pool Friend
Bess Meisler	...	Yiayia
Andrea Martin	...	Aunt Voula
Louis Mandylor	...	Nick Portokalos
Gerry Mendicino	...	Uncle Taki
Stavroula Logothettis	...	Athena

Storyline

Toula Portokalos is 30, Greek, and works in her family's restaurant, Dancing Zorba's, in Chicago. All her father Gus wants is for her to get married to a nice Greek boy. But Toula is looking for more in life. Her mother convinces Gus to let her take some computer classes at college (making him think it's his idea). With those classes under her belt, she then takes over her aunt's travel agency (again making her father think it's his idea). She meets Ian Miller, a high school English teacher, WASP, and dreamboat she had made a fool of herself over at the restaurant; they date secretly for a while before her family finds out. Her father is livid over her dating a non-Greek. He has to learn to accept Ian; Ian has to learn to accept Toula's huge family, and Toula has to learn to accept herself.

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Plot Keywords:

greek | restaurant | dancing | school | love | 

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Taglines:

Love is here to stay... so is her family.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sensuality and language

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English Greek

Release Date:

2 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mariage à la grecque

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$273,623 (Japan) (18 July 2003)

Gross:

$1,680,732 (Japan) (8 August 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gold Circle Films, Home Box Office (HBO), MPH Entertainment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Hanks's wife, Rita Wilson, saw the play and recommended that her husband produce a movie version. In an interview with the German magazine "Cinema", Nia Vardalos mentioned that she hung up when Hanks called, because she didn't believe it was really him.

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Goofs

When young Toula's dad drops her and her friends off at school, and stops her to remind her she "should be proud to be Greek", the window changes position throughout the dialogue.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Gus Portokalos: [to Toula] You better get married soon. You're starting to look... old!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: All E's are replaced by the Greek letter Sigma.

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Connections

References Zorba the Greek (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Tis Nifis Ta Vimata"
Performed by Eman
Written by Emmanuel Kiriakou (as Emanuel Kiriakou)
Published by Roditis Music
Courtesy of Lunapark Entertainment

User Reviews

A Greek "All in the Family" Great fun!

If you're of Greek descent like me, then you'll appreciate and relate to the very funny (but exaggerated) tendencies and idiosyncrasies of the Greek Portokalos family. Nia Vardalos plays the bride-to-be. John Corbett the groom-to-be. She's Greek, he's not. That's where the fun begins as Michael Constantine her father is not happy her daughter is marrying a "stranger"(a non-Greek). Constantine shines as he portrays a very protective, caring, loving father. The movie was superbly cast. The movie is of light fare, great for the entire family. Can't help to think that this would have made a great TV series. Sort of a Greek "All in the family". I understand a sequel is already planned titled "My Big Fat Greek Baby". If you're Greek, go and laugh at my family, your family, our family. If you're not, go and just laugh at us. Great fun!