Driving Aphrodite (2009)
"My Life in Ruins" (original title)

A travel guide rediscovers her romantic side on a trip around Greece.

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writer:

Mike Reiss

Stars:

Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nia Vardalos	...	Georgia
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Irv
Alexis Georgoulis	...	Poupi
Alistair McGowan	...	Nico
Harland Williams	...	Big Al
Rachel Dratch	...	Kim
Caroline Goodall	...	Dr. Tullen
Ian Ogilvy	...	Mr. Tullen
Sophie Stuckey	...	Caitlin
María Botto	...	Lala
María Adánez	...	Lena
Brian Palermo	...	Marc
Jareb Dauplaise	...	Gator
Simon Gleeson	...	Ken
Natalie O'Donnell	...	Sue

Storyline

Georgia is an American academic who's lost her teaching job in Athens. She's taken a job as a tour guide, but she hates it and it shows: the tourists, mostly American, are bored with history and facts; they want to shop. Every group has a goofy couple, a frat boy, a sullen teen, a feuding couple, divorcées looking for a mate, and a funny guy. This group is no exception, plus there's no air conditioning and a bearded silent driver. Thanks to an unlikely friendship, plus daisies, an ice-cream cone, the history of syrup, and the Oracle at Delphi, Georgia may have a shot at finding her kefi during this four-day tour.

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Plot Keywords:

american | air conditioning | tour guide | syrup | tourist | 

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Taglines:

Falling in Love...In All the Wrong Places

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mi vida en ruinas

Filming Locations:

Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$3,223,161 (USA) (5 June 2009)

Gross:

$8,662,318 (USA) (28 August 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

26 Films, Kanzaman

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 98 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although this film is not a sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the Italian title was changed into "Le mie grosse grasse vacanze greche" ("My Big Fat Greek Holidays") thus adding confusion on this being a completely new film.

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Goofs

The three women who can't speak English sit in the back of the bus, one behind Irv, and the two others in the seat behind her. But in one shot, when Georgia is about to show what the Oracle in Delphi was like etc., the seat where the two women were sitting is empty, later, they are there again.

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Quotes

Big Al: Nobody touches Big Al's hottie.

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Connections

Referenced in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #8.109 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Dream Dance"
(2006)
Written by Andy Georges
Performed by Andy Georges (uncredited)
Published by Vision Spin (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Beat Chamber Records
By Arrangement with MS-PRO

User Reviews

Not her best work

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.