Connie and Carla (2004)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

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 | Fugitive

Awards:

1 win

Cast

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:

Connie and Carla Do L.A. (USA) (working title)

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 | 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 Carla is going through her coke-induced monologue on the side of the road and Connie climbs back into the front seat, Carla's seatbelt goes from off to on to off again between shots before they both put their seatbelts on as they are getting back on the road.

Quotes:

Connie: I like him!
Connie: I saw him before when we were still girls. He was standing out front. We had this moment Carla. He was nice to me.
Carla: What are you talking about?
Connie: Right. Why would he ever be attracted to me? I'm a drag queen.

Movie Connections:

References Victor Victoria (1982)

Soundtrack:

Crazy Baby

Maximum Silliness, But Still Fun

First things first: this is a very silly movie with a cardboard plot, hackneyed characters, and some atrocious dialog. BUT - nobody goes to see a movie like this for its iconic "film" moments. You go because it looks utterly ridiculous and you're in the mood for just that sort of fluff. On that basis, the movie delivers a lot of entertainment - many out-loud laughs and a variety of entertaining songs.

Toni Collette's talent reservoir seems bottomless - she can act, sing AND dance. Nia Vardalos also sings sufficiently well, and her easy, comic manner nicely leavens the somewhat hysterical character played by Collette. Together, the actresses are genuinely entertaining as they work their way through the list of Broadway standards. David Duchovny, in a role that could have been painful to watch in less competent hands, instead brings an unusually light and friendly touch to the role of Vardalos's love interest (Aside: where's he been? He's cuter than he's ever been in his life - stop languishing at home with Tea and Madelaine!).

Yes, the ending is silly; pay attention - I already said the whole movie is silly. But did I laugh loudly several times? Yup. Hysterically a couple of times? Uh-huh. Did I enjoy the musical numbers? Definitely. Will I ever feel the same way about the song "Mame" again? Not hardly. Did I get my money's worth? You betcha!