Connie and Carla (2004)

Director:

Michael Lembeck

Writer (WGA):

Nia Vardalos (written by)

Release Date:

16 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

When you follow your dream, there's no telling what you'll become.

Plot:

A mob mix-up in Chicago sends two chanteuses screaming for L.A., where they score a perfect gig: posing as drag queens on the dinner theater/cabaret circuit. Things get extra-weird when a guy falls for one of the girls.

Plot Keywords:

Drag Queen | Mafia | Murder | Friendship | Box Office Flop

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Nia Vardalos	...	Connie
Toni Collette	...	Carla
David Duchovny	...	Jeff
Stephen Spinella	...	Robert / Peaches
Alec Mapa	...	Lee / N'Cream
Chris Logan	...	Brian / Brianna (as Christopher Logan)
Robert Kaiser	...	Paul
Ian Gomez	...	Stanley
Nick Sandow	...	Al
Dash Mihok	...	Mikey
Robert John Burke	...	Rudy
Boris McGiver	...	Tibor
Don Ackerman	...	Super Fey Guy
Debbie Reynolds	...	Herself (Special Appearance)
Veena Sood	...	Mrs. Morse

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual humor and drug references.

Runtime:

USA:98 min | Argentina:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Malaysia:18SX | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:MG6 | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Spyglass Entertainment

Trivia:

Nia Vardalos real life husband plays the owner of the club.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are doing the Evita number, the positions of their arms repeatedly change between shots.

Quotes:

Paul:That's not my name.
Brian:How about Patty like me, Patty Cake.
Paul:No.
Robert:Patty O'Furniture.
Paul:No.
Robert:Patty Pooper.
Paul:No!

Movie Connections:

References Hairspray (1988)

Soundtrack:

Everything's Alright

Lots of Fun

If you go looking for an Academy favorite, you'll not enjoy this film. If you want to laugh yourself silly and just have a romp with fun, this will be a blast.

Toni Collette is perfect as a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman. From the moment she catches herself NOT lowering her voice followed by an attempt at a drag queen's overdone smile, she wins you over. Her silly and girlish character is a winner....especially after opening an unknown package in the car.

Nia Vardalos will never win an acting award, but still has fun developing her own roles that she clearly writes for herself. She exudes self confidence, taking on the leadership role of the friendship. She allows us to see the weaknesses of her character here, however, making it a happy departure from My Big Fat Greek Wedding where she was so full of self doubt.

You'll be hardpressed to find better on screen chemistry between any two people that will be beat Collette and Vardalos in Connie and Carla.

David Duchovney and Stephan Spinella are also highly effective in the role as anguished brothers, ultimately proving the well known theory about blood and water. Duchoveny, within moments can make you hate his character and then go doe eyed for him again. Spinella came close to making me cry.

These four are surrounded by a wonderful ensemble cast, who were gratefully not over stereotyped. They were not portrayed as bitchy, fingernail weilding mockerys of the drag queen stereotype, but rather as caring individuals who feel they have a common bond and love enough to go around, regardless of your orientation, job description, or gender.

Go see this one. Even is it's just for the music, which by the way, is awesome!