David R. Walker

Archive for the ‘Nia Vardalos’ Category

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

Director: Nia Vardalos

Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone, Alexis Georgoulis, Elias Kacavas, Laine Kazan, Gia Carides

Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes

Film Rating: 6 out of 10

Canadian actress and screenwriter Nia Vardalos returns to the Portokalos family from the original 2002 hit film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with the third instalment of the comedy franchise, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 written, directed by Vardalos and also starring as the main character Toula Portokalos who this time takes her entire Greek family to Greece to fulfil her late father’s wishes.

From the Greek immigrant community in Chicago to the Greek islands, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a family romp about a rambunctious extended family who return to their homeland and discover some new family members, several goats and a grumpy Greek old lady who keeps everyone in line.

Whilst the storyline for this third instalment is very thin on the ground, Nia Vardalos unfortunately misses some great comedic moments throughout the film, which is a pity as this could have been exceptionally funny like the Oscar nominated original film back in 2002.

Instead, Nia Vardalos directs a slightly disjointed and incoherent film about a huge Greek family discovering their roots while making some casual references to the immigrant crisis that has besieged Greece in the last 20 years and the generational difference which always comes to light while on holiday as well as some skits on male grooming and Greek cuisine.

Toula’s daughter Paris played by Elena Kampouris is flirting with Aunt Voula’s dashing travel assistant, the young and buff Aristotle played by Elias Kacavas last scene in the TV series Euphoria. Paris and Aristotle meet another young and fun couple, Qamar and Christos while Toula and her gay brother Nick played hysterically by Louis Mandylor discover that they have some new Greek relatives to contend with specifically the gorgeous Peter played by Alexis Georgoulis (My Life in Ruins).

The scenery in this film is gorgeous as is the food. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is relaxing viewing consisting of a carefully selected set of scenes about a chaotic Greek family on holiday in the motherland without a hint of menace. This film isn’t The White Lotus.

Unfortunately, the characters of the Portokalos family have reached their expiry date after nearly 20 years and secondly Nia Vardalos should have left the direction of this film to someone more capable.

With idyllic scenery, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is as about as light as a pita bread with cucumber dip. Judging by how full the cinema was, when I saw this, this film will have mass appeal: it’s about young love, family relationships, death and new beginnings, cross cultural themes that everyone can relate to.

Despite not being brilliant, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a lovely family comedy and gets a film rating of 6 out of 10. If you are depressed go and watch this film, it will make you want to fly to Greece!