April 19, 2002 (United States)
August 16, 2002 (Canada)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and written by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, and Joey Fatone. It follows a young Greek-American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.
An international co-production between the United States and Canada, the film premiered at the American Film Market on February 22, 2002, and was theatrically released in the United States on April 19, 2002, by IFC Films. It received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $368.7 million worldwide against its $5 million budget, becoming the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2002. It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 75th Academy Awards and for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Vardalos at the 60th Golden Globe Awards.
The film spawned a franchise, which inspired the 2003 sitcom My Big Fat Greek Life and the 2016 sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. A third film, titled My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, was released in theaters on September 8, 2023.
Storyline
In Chicago, 30-year-old Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos is a member of a large, loud, overbearing Greek family. Her father, Gus, wants her to get married and have children as soon as possible. Toula lives with her parents and works at their restaurant, Dancing Zorba's, but longs to gain independence from her family.
One day, Toula finds herself attracted to Ian Miller, a high school teacher who is meeting a friend at Dancing Zorba's. That evening, Toula tells her parents she wants to take classes at the local college to learn about computers to help them run the restaurant, but Gus becomes distraught, believing Toula intends to leave him. Toula's mother, Maria, comforts her and convinces Gus to agree to Toula's idea.
As the weeks pass, Toula gains more confidence and changes her image, switching her thick-framed glasses for contact lenses, styling her hair, and wearing makeup and brighter clothes that show her figure. After seeing a flyer for a class about computers and tourism, Toula suggests to her aunt Voula that she could take the class and apply what she learns to help Voula's travel agency. Voula agrees, and she and Maria covertly convince Gus to agree as well.
While Toula is working in the travel agency, Ian notices her and asks her out for dinner. On their date, Toula confesses to Ian that her family owns Dancing Zorba's; he suddenly remembers her and, contrary to Toula's fear that he would remember her as "frump girl", he remains interested in her. They continue dating and fall in love.
Knowing her family would disapprove of her dating a non-Greek, Toula lies about taking a pottery class as a cover to continue seeing Ian. However, she is exposed when a family friend sees them kissing in a parking lot. Gus is furious that Ian did not ask his permission to date Toula and forbids them from seeing each other. Despite Gus's efforts at introducing Toula to single Greek men, she continues to date Ian. Toula's brother, Niko, tells her that she inspired him to follow his passion and take art courses at night.
Ian proposes marriage and Toula accepts. Maria tells Gus that he must respect Toula's decision, but he remains upset because Ian is not a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. Ian agrees to be baptized into the church to persuade Toula's family to accept him.
Toula's family members constantly insert themselves into the wedding planning, designing ugly bridesmaid dresses and misspelling Ian's mother's name on the wedding invitations. Ian's quiet, conservative parents meet Toula's entire family during a loud and extravagant dinner, after which Gus is frustrated by the Millers' introverted and judgmental nature. Toula worries about whether her father has accepted Ian, but Maria reassures her that she and Gus came to the United States so Toula and her siblings could have the freedom Maria and Gus didn't have as children.
At the wedding reception, Gus gives a heartfelt speech about how the differences in the newlyweds' backgrounds do not matter. He and Maria reveal that they have bought a house for Toula and Ian. As the two families dance together, Toula decides that while her family is loud and unconventional, she knows they love her and will always be there for her.
Six years later, Toula and Ian are living in the house Gus and Maria bought them, which is located right next door to the Portokalos' house. The couple walks their daughter, Paris, to her first day of Greek school.
Also See
- My Big Fat Greek Life
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023)
Movie Trailer
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) (Trailers)
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Doorbell Ding Dong PE1044003/Home Doorbell Classi PE192101
- Hollywoodedge, Telephone Rings Bell PE170601
- Hollywoodedge, Telephone Rings Bell PE170901