My Life in Ruins (2009)

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

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writer:

Mike Reiss

Stars:

Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Rachel Dratch

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:

tourist | tour guide | greece | tour bus | greek | 

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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 Greek

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 USA:

$3,223,161, 7 June 2009, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$8,662,318, 30 August 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

26 Films, Kanzaman

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first Hollywood movie to be given permission to film at the Acropolis since Boy on a Dolphin (1957). The Greek government had previously refused all requests for fear that a film crew would disrupt this archaeologically sensitive site, but according to an article in Britain's Guardian newspaper, made an exception for this film because they thought that it would help to promote Greek culture.

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Goofs

There are many scenes where you can see clearly they were filmed in Spain, not in Greece. Most noticeable, the hotel they stay at the night before going to the beach is the HOTEL MIRAMAR ("sea view" in Spanish). Also the phone in the room is Spanish, some of the machines used in a close-by job-site belong to a Spanish rental company.

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Quotes

Georgia: You must think I'm crazy.
Poupi Kakas: Yes.
Georgia: Fair enough. Why would not tell me?
Poupi Kakas: I thought you needed to talk. I have three sisters, so talk.
Georgia: Do you ever question what you're doing with your life?
Poupi Kakas: No.
Georgia: What?
Poupi Kakas: Talk more about the no sex.
Georgia: I'm good. Thanks.
Poupi Kakas: You don't question? Come on. Greece is the land of philosophers.
[...]

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Connections

References 300 (2006)

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Soundtracks

Ta Pedia Tou Pirea
(1960)
Nusic by Manos Hatzidakis (as Manos Hadjidakis)
Eglish Lyrics by Billy Towne
Published by EMI Unart Catalog, Inc. (BMI)

User Reviews

Fun and Romantic Traveling Comedy

I attended a screening of MY LIFE IN RUINS and found it to be completely entertaining. I loved my BIG FAT Greek WEDDING and was excited to see this new movie made by some of the same people and with Nia Vardalos as the star. Nia has great comedic timing and she looks fantastic in this film. I think a lot of people can identify with feeling "out of whack" with life situations and it was enjoyable to live vicariously through Nia's character Georgia as she made breakthroughs in her love life and career. Some of the tour bus characters were a little kooky, but I think that played into Georgia's initial frustration with the job. By the end of the story, all of those crazy people had become likable and even lovable in the case of Richard Dreyfuss' character - I thought he was wonderful, too. And the bus driver cleaned up very nicely - he was downright hot by the end of the movie. The movie really is a perfect sales pitch for Greece. I felt the same way I did after seeing UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN and SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS - I wanted to book a vacation to a beautiful European country - and I would return to Greece in a heartbeat. Synopsis: watch this film if you want a vacation from all the depressing news about the economy, from your cold weather climate, from your own life stress... or if you just want a vacation, period!