One of the problems about having a successful first film, is that people have high expectations of your next one. Such is the case with Nia Vardolos. even though it has been many years since i've seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding, to this day, I still make a Windex joke whenever I can. My Life in Ruins has a long way to go, but in fairness, Vardolos did not script this one. She definitely should have. Overall, the movie is satisfied with being simply cute. It doesn't really bother to push the envelope and go for frisky or funny, which would have been nice.
Georgia is fed up with her job as a tour guide on a bus trip across mainland Greece. The tourists are never interested in her or the ancient ruins they visit (which she finds fascinating). On this latest tour. (which she plans to make her last) One of the people on board is a charming fellow American, a crone, who teaches her how to be a better guide, and a more fun person. As she gets better and better at her job with each stop, she learns more about the folks on board, including the strong-silent type driver, who to her surprise has long been in love with her.
The first problem with My Life in Ruins is obvious, it takes too long to get going. The first act in dedicated entirely to showing us how miserable Georgia is. After about fifteen minutes, we start to get the message. Vardolos, on another matter, is not even half as much fun as she was in Big Fat Greek Wedding. Even when she takes her clothes off in act three, her performance is quite stiff. Part of the problem, also has to do with a lack of character, another problem which may have been fixed if the script was hers.
My Life in Ruins, is certainly not in Ruins, but it doesn't go any further than being cute.
Georgia is fed up with her job as a tour guide on a bus trip across mainland Greece. The tourists are never interested in her or the ancient ruins they visit (which she finds fascinating). On this latest tour. (which she plans to make her last) One of the people on board is a charming fellow American, a crone, who teaches her how to be a better guide, and a more fun person. As she gets better and better at her job with each stop, she learns more about the folks on board, including the strong-silent type driver, who to her surprise has long been in love with her.
The first problem with My Life in Ruins is obvious, it takes too long to get going. The first act in dedicated entirely to showing us how miserable Georgia is. After about fifteen minutes, we start to get the message. Vardolos, on another matter, is not even half as much fun as she was in Big Fat Greek Wedding. Even when she takes her clothes off in act three, her performance is quite stiff. Part of the problem, also has to do with a lack of character, another problem which may have been fixed if the script was hers.
My Life in Ruins, is certainly not in Ruins, but it doesn't go any further than being cute.