Synopsis: In My Life In Ruins, an American tour guide finds unexpected love while leading an unruly and disinterested group of travelers through Greece.
Release Date: June 5, 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Comedy, Romantic Comedy
Film Review
Production
With a great ensemble of characters and laughs aplenty, My Life In Ruins is a pleasure to view. The romance aspect may be a bit on the light side but it does not lessen the experience because you are constantly engaged with all of the different characters and their antics while traveling through Greece. What you essentially get with My Life In Ruins is a lighthearted comedy which aims to show that changing your mindset is completely possible when you open your eyes and your heart to those around you.
Acting
Every performance in My Life In Ruins is done incredibly well and with excellent comedic timing. Nia Vardalos (Georgia) is delightful and full of sarcastic wit and an undeniable charm. There is something in the way she portrays Georgia that is never threatening but always endearing that makes the movie all the more enjoyable. The true scene stealer though is Richard Dreyfuss (Irv). As the “tourist who thinks he is funny” Dreyfuss latches on to his role as the outright ridiculously unfunny tourist with a great amount of dedication.
Cinematography
My Life In Ruins takes place in one of the most beautiful and historic places on Earth, Greece. It is unfortunate but the cinematography is very light on shots showing the scenery and views from atop the ancient ruins or landscapes. You are mostly given tight basic shots of characters and the general area they are in making My Life In Ruins feel as if it could have been shot anywhere in the world; for the location is spoken about constantly but not made part of the story through the camera work.
Chemistry
The romantic leads do lack that certain something for most of the film. You can see the potential with the two of them but when they do find each other it may feel a bit rushed and awkward. As time passes and more is said and done it does become clear that they are a match well worth happening. They just could have used a bit more build up to get there so it would not come across as so much a summer fling than a lasting commitment.
Comedy Factor
My Life In Ruins is full of laughs and great humor. It is a true crowd pleaser and laughing out loud is pretty much a given. The main comedy comes from the antics of the tourists, and the ways in which they interact with each other and the local people of Greece. If you are in the mood to have a laugh based on the eccentricities and behaviors of people, My Life In Ruins is for you.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Donald Petrie
- Screenwriter: Mike Reiss
- Cast: Nia Vardalos (Georgia), Richard Dreyfuss (Irv), Rachel Dratch (Kim), Harland Williams (Big Al)
- Other Crew: Patrick J. Don Vito, Jose Luis Alcaine, David Chapman, Lala Huete, David Newman
- Country Of Origin: USA, Spain
