Review of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) by Rachel B — 10 Apr 2018

The romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Directed by Joel Zwick, opened in the box office in 2002, and is the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time. Placing itself squarely in the sub-genre of seemingly impossible cross cultural relations, this film can analyzed alongside films such as The Big Sick.

This film's writing and its cinematography is perhaps what made it such an incredible hit. In characterizing the Greek community, the writing is loud, overlapping, almost schizophrenic in nature. The frequency of cuts of cuts while Toula is with her family is especially high. The voices are loud, the number of people in the cut is many, the close ups are aggressive and rushed, and the overall tone is rather hurried. The contrast with Ian's family is stark; his WASP, four person, "proper," nuclear family is portrayed in long, singular cuts, often in near silence; the writing is filled with manners and niceties, which we don't get at all from the Portokalos family. With this sharp contrast, the comedic potential that is present in examining the peculiarities of any family relation is exploited to the maximum degree. The keen exploration of Greek culture has a comedic value of its own, but what makes it all the more comedically viable is the introduction of the outsider, Ian's family, into this whirlwind.

This film is a classic heartwarming, family romantic comedy, also attractive for its cultural significance in our modern world. The film explores themes of traditionalism as contrasted with progressivism; the relation between a tribalist and a universalist mentality. Relatable to its audience is, perhaps, the tension between these themes, and the struggle between parental approval and personal desires.

If you have not seen this film, you are missing out. This film is ingenious in its utilization of cinematic techniques and comedic timing. It's very American in nature; drawing on themes of immigrant tribalism and the Americanization of ancient familial traditions, as well as romantic modernism featuring the possibility of intermarriage. The exploration of the hysterics of the Greek family is heartwarming and hilarious in its own right, and that, combined with the exasperated character of Toula and the adorably funny love of Ian makes this film a must-see family favorite.