My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2002

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: So good-natured and life-loving, and Vardalos' Toula is so quick-witted and adorable, that we have little problem understanding why Ian would want to get in on the fun. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: A fun ride. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: The beauty of the piece is that it counts heart as important as humor. Read more

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News: Sluggishly directed by episodic TV veteran Joe Zwick, it's a sitcom without the snap-crackle. Read more

Loren King, Chicago Tribune: The reliability of the genre doesn't excuse predictable jokes, pat fiascoes and so many stereotypes that one is tempted to alert the Greek anti-defamation league. Read more

Dave Kehr, New York Times: An amiable, offhanded comedy about ethnic identity and last-chance romance. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: Vardalos apparently never met an ethnic stereotype she didn't like, and she's got a million of them. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: This is an affectionate and good-hearted movie that could've been a whole lot better and could've been a whole lot worse. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Chicago Reader: Second City alum Nia Vardalos stars in this ethnic comedy, which she also wrote -- an ambitious way to break into a leading role; too bad the results are insubstantial. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Despite its flaws, the movie leaves you feeling good, which is about all it aspires to. Read more

Steven Rosen, Denver Post: While this modest film certainly isn't the equal of Monsoon Wedding in humor, insight or character development, it is fun. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The wedding ... turns the very concept of 'Greek' into the sort of hideous, pandering cliches that look rejected from bad Jewish and Italian sitcoms. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a very slim movie that succeeds on its own modest terms without pretense or apology. No wonder it's easy to like. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: As a witness to several Greek-American weddings -- but, happily, a victim of none -- I can testify to the comparative accuracy of Ms. Vardalos' memories and insights. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The movie is consistently funny without ever going over the top -- a rarity in movies. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Warm-hearted in the way a movie can be when it knows its people inside out. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: With tiny little jokes and nary an original idea, this sappy ethnic sleeper proves that not only blockbusters pollute the summer movie pool. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: It's a buoyant comedy with more warmth and generosity of spirit than anything else in theaters right now. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: You don't have to be Greek to enjoy My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and that's precisely the point of it. Read more

Time Out: The result feels a little over-egged at times and the love match lacks chemistry, but Ian's whistlestop induction into a different style of language, food, drink, dress and dancing allows a few good one-liners. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Wedding feels a bit anachronistic. Still, not every low-budget movie must be quirky or bleak, and a happy ending is no cinematic sin. Read more

Leslie Camhi, Village Voice: Vardalos's parodies of Greek family values are loving and witheringly hilarious. Read more