My Life in Ruins is a fun, romantic comedy starring Nia Vardalos fresh from her winning performance as Toula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Georgia is a Greek-American stuck in a dead-end tour guide job after she got laid off from Athens University (her reason for coming to Greece in the first place). Frustrated with her inability to engage her tour groups with her clear passion about Greece, she hates her job and they in turn hate her. But one tour group, and a man named Irv, will change Georgia's outlook on life considerably.
What bothers me about this movie is that it feels like it was written by two screenwriters who fought over what sort of tone it should have. Many parts of it are really touching and magical (the Oracle scene a particular highlight) but then other parts are so mean-spirited. Initially, the tour group are portrayed as collective airheads who are rude to Georgia, then suddenly they come around as much more likeable characters, and it isn't really a believable leap for most of them.
The movie's biggest misfire by far, though, happens towards the end. *SPOILERS* That misfire was chickening out of killing off Irv. Richard Dreyfuss and Rita Wilson's little scene was absolutely precious and it was clear that Irv's role in the story was complete; he was Georgia's mentor sent to guide her onto the right path. At this point she is, so it was his time to go. Not killing him had no thematic payoff at all except a cute little scene where the tour group visit him at the hospital. He should've just come back Obi-Wan style in order for Georgia to thank him for helping her onto the right path. Irv dying was what the story called for, and I don't like to think that it was producer interference that stopped it, seeing how Rita Wilson was herself an executive producer.
Because the acting is great all around. Nia Vardalos delivers with a tricky role far removed from her character in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Richard Dreyfuss really steals the show, though, as Irv. He should've been nominated for an Oscar for his role, such is the nuance and heart of his performance.
My Life in Ruins is a feel-good film with many laugh-out-loud moments and characters you come to care about. However, the film chickens out in regards to Irv and as such isn't as complete as it deserved to be.
What bothers me about this movie is that it feels like it was written by two screenwriters who fought over what sort of tone it should have. Many parts of it are really touching and magical (the Oracle scene a particular highlight) but then other parts are so mean-spirited. Initially, the tour group are portrayed as collective airheads who are rude to Georgia, then suddenly they come around as much more likeable characters, and it isn't really a believable leap for most of them.
The movie's biggest misfire by far, though, happens towards the end. *SPOILERS* That misfire was chickening out of killing off Irv. Richard Dreyfuss and Rita Wilson's little scene was absolutely precious and it was clear that Irv's role in the story was complete; he was Georgia's mentor sent to guide her onto the right path. At this point she is, so it was his time to go. Not killing him had no thematic payoff at all except a cute little scene where the tour group visit him at the hospital. He should've just come back Obi-Wan style in order for Georgia to thank him for helping her onto the right path. Irv dying was what the story called for, and I don't like to think that it was producer interference that stopped it, seeing how Rita Wilson was herself an executive producer.
Because the acting is great all around. Nia Vardalos delivers with a tricky role far removed from her character in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Richard Dreyfuss really steals the show, though, as Irv. He should've been nominated for an Oscar for his role, such is the nuance and heart of his performance.
My Life in Ruins is a feel-good film with many laugh-out-loud moments and characters you come to care about. However, the film chickens out in regards to Irv and as such isn't as complete as it deserved to be.