Saturday, July 18, 2009
My Life in Ruins
“Your jokes aren’t funny.” This recurring accusation laid against Greek tour guide Georgia (Nia Vardalos) in My Life in Ruins is unfortunately too true of the film itself. With a storyline that could fit on a cocktail napkin (and should probably have been discarded as such), My Life in Ruins is an entirely unsatisfying trip to Greece, with a bus full of stereotypes, cheesy sentimentality and poo jokes in the form of a hirsute (but underneath, hottie) driver called Poupi Kakas (Alexis Georgoulis).
It’s as if all the self-deprecating humour from Vardalos’ charming My Big Fat Greek Wedding was recycled, churned into something almost entirely unfunny. Mike Reiss, as a producer and writer for The Simpsons, you really should know better.
Even Richard Dreyfuss’ best efforts fall flat. In fact, his knowing widower storyline drags the film further away from comedy, into the saccharine stupor of a midday movie. Add to the mix a klepto Granny, a pair of ocker, beer-swilling Aussies and some loud Americans and you’ve got a trip to the cinema best avoided.
It’s a shame really, because director Donald Petrie (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Miss Congeniality) could have tried to do something with his motley crew, which includes Saturday Night Live talent Rachel Dratch. Or he could even have made more of Greece itself, though as the credits reveal that much of the film was shot in Spain, this might have proven difficult.
The film’s one saving grace is Vardalos herself. She does her level best with this truly trite material, and she’s so likable that you want her to win the heart of the Greek god Georgoulis and succeed in shouldering this ruinous film. To a certain extent she does, but alas her opening line also rings true: “Oh yeah, I’ve hit rock bottom.”
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This review also appeared in The Brag.
Australian release date: 16 July 2009
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3 comments:
Oooh I like you when you get your nasty on!
I haven't even seen the trailer, but felt this as bad news. So happy you confirmed it (but sorry you had to sit through it!)
xxx
Actually, Kate, I think Alice is spot on. It is completely trite. I'd also describe it as puerile. While A Big Fat Greek Wedding is no piece of art, it works on a level that this one doesn't, because it has a foundation in reality that extracts genuine laughter. This one is just stupid, stupid, stupid. I can't tell who the target audience is; I don't think it's the same Greek audience. It doesn't work as a romantic comedy with all the stupid toilet humour and I can't see the teen demographic being taken in with the romantic aspect.
I took my Greek in-laws to an advance screening that Vardalos introduced herself. They had a chuckle or two, but even they found it quite forgettable.
@Kate: Ha! I hope I'm not too nasty! You know my high tolerance for mindless chick flicks, but this one is just bad, bad, bad!
It's a shame though, because I really enjoyed Vardalos' wry humour in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Perhaps she should go back to writing parts for herself.
@Paul Martin: Good! I'm glad it wasn't just me. Though I was sitting next to David Stratton in the screening and got the feeling he wasn't digging it either.
Also lucky that your in-laws found the film forgettable rather than insulting! I felt all the cultural stereotypes were so over the top, and whereas MBFGW had genuine affection for it's colourful characters, I'd say this film borders on hostile!
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