review
Although the legions of actors and writers dreaming of their big score won't have much sympathy for Nia Vardalos, her predicament can't be easy. When your very first movie (that would be "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") became perhaps the biggest sleeper hit in history, with worldwide grosses topping $360 million, what can you possibly do for an encore?
Vardalos realizes she never will top that movie's success, as she's acknowledged with refreshing candor in interviews. Her subsequent ventures, including "Connie and Carla," the TV version of "Greek Wedding" and this summer's boxoffice disappointment "My Life in Ruins," only proved the obvious truism that blockbusters are notoriously difficult to duplicate.
Although the legions of actors and writers dreaming of their big score won't have much sympathy for Nia Vardalos, her predicament can't be easy. When your very first movie (that would be "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") became perhaps the biggest sleeper hit in history, with worldwide grosses topping $360 million, what can you possibly do for an encore?
Vardalos realizes she never will top that movie's success, as she's acknowledged with refreshing candor in interviews. Her subsequent ventures, including "Connie and Carla," the TV version of "Greek Wedding" and this summer's boxoffice disappointment "My Life in Ruins," only proved the obvious truism that blockbusters are notoriously difficult to duplicate.
"I Hate Valentine's Day," which had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and will open next week in theaters, will not mark a sudden change in Vardalos' fortunes. This time she not only stars and wrote the screenplay but also makes her directorial debut. She will not be a threat to Woody Allen anytime soon, but some of her fans will find this romantic comedy endearing. Vardalos reteams with "Greek Wedding" co-star John Corbett, and they demonstrate that their chemistry in that earlier movie was no fluke.
As the title hints, Vardalos set out to undermine the commercialization of romance that makes so many people feel inadequate. Her character, Genevieve, runs a flower shop in Brooklyn, and while she makes her living catering to people's romantic fantasies, she is not buying the mythology. In her personal relationships, Genevieve has a "five-date" rule, which means she breaks off every budding romance after five dates, before the fun has gone out of the fling and anyone gets hurt. Of course, her rule is tested when she meets Greg (Corbett), a disenchanted lawyer who is opening a tapas bar in the neighborhood. Greg has a rather melancholy history with women, so he's receptive to Genevieve's happy-go-lucky formula. Eventually, both have to break their self-destructive patterns before they can connect.
No comments:
Post a Comment